LNP’s Colin Boyce says Labor “can’t have it both ways” on Queensland’s energy future

As the days count down before a federal election must be called, the LNP’s Colin Boyce has called out Labor as well as billionaires and said Central Queensland will rely on coal well after 2030.

Increased reliance on renewable energy would prompt the demise of Central Queensland industry, according to the LNP’s Colin Boyce, as the battle for Flynn draws near.

Just days after politicians from both sides met with Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest as construction got underway at the mining magnate’s new green energy facility in Gladstone, the LNP candidate declared Labor ‘can’t have it both ways’ on energy policy as well as taking aim at billionaires.

Callide MP and LNP candidate for Flynn, Colin Boyce slammed Labor and said the party must decide if it wanted to back local industry or the “uneconomic alternatives” of renewables.

LNP candidate for the federal seat of Flynn and the current LNP state member for Callide, Colin Boyce, in front of the Callide power station near Biloela. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Mr Boyce called out Gladstone Mayor, and ALP candidate for Flynn, Matt Burnett, as well as Queensland Regional Development Minister, Glenn Butcher.

“Labor’s (Matt) Burnett and (Glenn) Butcher have to decide if they want to back the current industries in Gladstone and Central Qld or the proposed uneconomical alternative industries,” Mr Boyce said.

“An increase in renewable energy will see the demise of Gladstone’s traditional industries of aluminium smelters, cement, coal, gas, local manufacturing and associated industries,” he said.

A picture alongside Andrew Forrest uploaded to Colin Boyce’s Facebook page following the sod turning at Fortescue’s new Green Energy Manufacturing Centre at Gladstone. Picture: Colin Boyce

The attack followed Sunday’s sod turning at Fortescue Metals’ new Green Energy Manufacturing Centre (GEM), which will be the site of the world’s largest electrolyser facility, where Dr Forrest said Australia’s entire coal fleet should be shut down by the end of this decade.

Mr Boyce told The Observer the idea of closing down traditional power by 2030 was a “reckless notion” that would spell economic disaster for the country.

“Australia cannot have billionaire businessmen dictating and controlling energy and energy policy,” he said.

“Transition to future alternative energy sources will be and should be a slow progression.”

Minister Butcher left this comment on Mr Boyce’s post suggesting how the discussion between the MP and Dr Forrest likely went.

Labor’s Glenn Butcher hit back at Mr Boyce, who he labelled a climate change denier, and said it wasn’t surprising the Callide MP was pushing this narrative.

“Let me be clear, we will not be shutting the gates on our power stations, their workers or communities … instead, we will invest in their futures,” Mr Butcher said.

He also wished to point out that Mr Boyce attended the sod turning and uploaded a picture to social media beside Dr Forrest captioned ‘discussing the future energy needs of the world’.

“What does that look like Mr Boyce?,” he asked.

Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher MP and Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett were singled out by Mr Boyce in the post. Picture: NewsCorp

Mr Boyce ended the social media post saying Gladstone would need coal well past 2030 and that he believed the climate “has always changed and always will”.

The Palaszczuk government is expected to release its energy plan later this year, outlining its plan to modernise Queensland’s assets.