Named: Queensland’s biggest carbon emitters revealed

Some of the state’s biggest emitters are in the firing line under Labor’s new climate change plan, the LNP claim. See which companies made the list.

Almost a third of the big emitters targeted in Labor’s climate change plan are in Queensland with all but two outside the capital city, prompting a senior LNP Senator to claim the state would cop the brunt of job losses “while letting other states off the hook”.

In the biggest offensive launched against the Opposition’s emissions reduction plan so far, Queensland Senator Matt Canavan is accusing it of being “Labor’s revenge” for the last election.

But Opposition climate and energy spokesman Chris Bowen said two-thirds of the companies had already committed to net zero by 2050 and Labor’s policy would create jobs in the regions, not remove them.

Queensland LNP Senator Matt Canavan. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Under Labor’s plan, Australia would achieve a 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2030, with the biggest contributor being a “cap and trade” scheme applying to the 215 biggest emitting facilities in the country.

These include a variety of mines, including at Collinsville, Isaac Plains, Moranbah and Mt Isa, as well as Aurizon Freight and the Boyne Smelters at Gladstone.

The two southeast business facilities were the Ampol refinery in Lytton and Incitec Pivott’s manufacturing plant at Gibson Island.

There are 28 facilities in Capricornia and 18 in the must-win seat of Flynn.

Senator Canavan said Queensland appeared to be hit more than other states by the “carbon tax”.

“This all seems to be Labor’s revenge for Queensland not voting for them at the last election,” he said.

“Labor’s radical carbon cuts will cause massive job losses in Queensland and leave us marooned, while letting other states off the hook.”

The list of companies is drawn from a safeguard mechanism set up by the Coalition, but Senator Canavan said it was not using the system to penalise companies with a cap decreasing over time.

Opposition spokesman for climate change and energy Chris Bowen. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Bowen said Labor was following industry’s lead by adopting change to the mechanism, backed by the Business Council of Australian and Australian Industry Group.

“The cosplay coalminer Matt Canavan is out selling Queensland another lie,” he said.

“Matt Canavan will continue to hang Queensland workers out to dry like he has his whole career – undercutting job security in the resources sector and turning away opportunities for new industries.

“Five in every six jobs in Labor’s Powering Australia plan will be in the regions.”

On Monday Mr Bowen said no jobs in coal-fired power stations or mines would be lost as a result of Labor’s policy, but there would be losses due to global market forces as the world moves towards net zero emissions.

Mr Canavan said if Australia was to cut its emissions, all parts of the country should bear the burden.