Editorial: Games future is green as city takes shape

We must all do our bit to ensure we make the most of this once-in-forever opportunity of hosting the Olympics and Paralympics, writes the editor.

A vision of the Brisbane CBD during the 2032 Games. Picture: Urbis

The Courier-Mail has long been an advocate for taking the opportunity presented by Brisbane’s hosting of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to better connect our capital city’s central business district.

We therefore welcome the vision shared this week by a group of local architects for the creation of a “2032 Green Grid” that would see our inner-city precincts linked by tree-lined streets and walkways.

It is not wildly different to the concept we raised in our 2022 Future Brisbane series for South Bank’s iconic bougainvillea-lined arbour to be extended beyond the parklands to Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba precinct, which will be home to the city’s new indoor arena entertainment centre from 2032.

But this vision goes further – proposing six projects that together would form the grid, that you can see a graphical representation of here.

We must all do our bit to ensure we make the most of this once-in-forever opportunity of hosting the Olympics and Paralympics.

This latest idea is an excellent contribution to that goal. The state government and the Brisbane City Council should give this plan due consideration – and soon, because trees take time to grow.

ROYALTIES NEED FULL INVESTIGATION

Premier David Crisafulli’s apparent determination to prove that he does really, really absolutely adore the state’s resources industry has been on full show this week.

His three consecutive days of announcements about new mining investments culminated yesterday with a remarkable speech to the Queensland Resources Council’s State of the Sector lunch, where he delivered a performance worth of a political rally in the US in terms of its deliberate enthusiasm.

“Everything we do is about providing certainty for the industry: approvals, regulation, taxation, certainty, no changes at a moment’s notice,” a thundering Mr Crisafulli told the room. “We believe in you, and we won’t always agree on everything, but know that we are a government that has your back and we want you to succeed.”

Then came a moment when it appeared he would address the elephant in the room – the fact that he is remaining committed to the globally uncompetitive royalties regime imposed three years on the state’s coal miners.

“I want to talk about taxation,” Mr Crisafulli said, and the room held its breath, only for the LNP Premier to unload on the politics of his Labor opponents in terms of their undermining of the industry.

“The mining industry’s taxation has been weaponised,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“The sector was demonised, it was battered, it was bullied, it was bruised.”

But he will stick with the royalties regime that coal mining companies claim make some of their mines in Queensland unprofitable, and so leads to job losses or uncertainty.

And indeed that point had been made already on stage by the chief executive of the Resources Council, Janette Hewson. She said it was now inevitable that there would be more job losses across the industry, with the sector’s contribution to the state’s economy down $5bn in a year – to $115bn.

She said “harder times will continue” but went on to praise the Premier for his government’s support of the sector, before calling for “decisive reform”.

That is code for the government to scrap the coal royalties regime.

Ms Hewson: “Coal royalties continues to be an issue that is causing problems for our coal sector. Certainty of what is really a poor policy doesn’t provide the certainty that industry wants.”

We remain unconvinced that at least some big coal miners are not using the royalties regime as cover for making tougher decisions. But the numbers are certainly starting to prove that there is a real impact.

Mining investment is declining in Queensland while rising across the rest of the nation, for example.

We have said it here before, and it bears repeating: the Premier should task his Productivity Commission with investigating the real impact of the coal royalties regime.

A proper investigation will strip out the claims, and deliver the truth. Such a probe would either expose coal bosses for using it as an excuse – and so provide the Premier with cover should miners continue to use it as an excuse for job cuts between now and the 2028 state election.

The review could also find the regime really is slowly killing the goose that lays Queensland’s golden eggs in terms of revenue.

Either way, it would allow the Premier to make a fully informed decision about the royalties regime – putting to bed this ongoing stoush.

There is no reason to doubt his government’s commitment to the sector. This week’s announcements prove this is an administration that is willing to do deals that lead to investment in new mines.

But the Premier’s full-throated support will always appear mere throat-clearing without a proper investigation of the impact of the coal royalties regime introduced without any consultation by the former Labor government.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here