Climate change Qld: Protesters to swarm parliament as Greens bill to ban new coal, gas projects introduced

Climate change protesters have descending on Queensland’s Parliament House, complete with a 4.5m animatronic koala as the Greens prepare to introduce a climate bill that would ban new coal and gas projects in the state.

Climate change protesters have descending on Queensland’s Parliament House as the Greens prepare to introduce a climate bill that would ban new coal and gas projects in the state.

Extinction Rebellion planned to swarm outside parliament as it is sitting, along with their 4.5m tall, animatronic Koala “Blinky” as the Greens launch their climate bill in the house.

Greens MP Michael Berkman said the new bill would also seek to phase out fossil fuel exports by 2030, and that introducing a transition plan this decade was needed to meet the country’s Paris Agreement climate obligations.

Extinction Rebellion's 4.5m tall, animatronic Koala “Blinky” on its way to parliament. Picture: 10 News

“Our bill will force the state government to work with resource workers and communities on a stable transition plan to replace coal and gas jobs with new opportunities by 2030,” he said.

“Resource workers deserve a long term plan for their future, yet they’ve been excluded from the Government’s climate policy.

“It’s time for a real conversation about what’s on the other side of coal and gas for Queensland.

“Unlike Labor, I really don’t care if the Qld Resources Council throws a tantrum about this. I care about the science that says we need to stop coal and gas, and the resources workers who say they want job security.”

A climate protest at King George Square in Brisbane in July, 2022. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Berkman also accused the government’s climate plans of being “worthless”, should they continue to support new coal and gas projects.

“We dragged the Government kicking and screaming to deliver a closure timeline for Queensland’s coal-fired power stations, but they’re silent on the challenges facing the inevitable climate transition in the resource industry,” he said.