Labor’s pledge on Queensland coal jobs revealed

Labor leaders have promised that no Queensland coal-fired power stations or coal mines will be forced into early shutdowns.

No Queensland coal-fired power stations will be forced to close early, nor coal mines forced to close under Labor’s climate plan, senior Opposition frontbenchers are pledging.

But coal-fired power stations and mines will continue to close as the market and age determines, Mr Bowen warned.

Modelling states the 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 target can be achieved without early shutdowns.

But Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said Labor’s promise was “extraordinary” given the same data predicts a huge influx of renewable energy will come online.

Coal-fire power stations and coal mines won’t be forced to close as a result of Labor’s policies, the Opposition says. Picture: AAP image/John Gass

Just one Queensland coal-fired power station is scheduled to close before 2030, Callide B in 2028, while Gladstone and Tarong are forecast to shutdown in 2035-36, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.

Labor’s Queensland resources spokesman Murray Watt and energy spokesman Chris Bowen have pledged the power stations won’t be forced to close under the policy, which includes a carbon credit cap-and-trade scheme for the 215 biggest emitters.

Mr Watt said Queensland had the youngest coal-fired power stations in the country, with Stanwell, Kogan Creek and Yabulu not due to close until the 2040s.

“That means we’ll need to keep using Queensland’s existing power stations and add to them with cheap, new renewable power, backed up by gas, batteries and hydro power,” he said.

“Under Labor’s policy, Queensland jobs in coal-fired power stations are safe and we can also grab the thousands of new jobs coming in hydrogen, renewables and manufacturing powered by newer, cheaper energy.”

Opposition spokesman for Queensland resources Murray Watt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Bowen said coal-fired power stations, like Liddell in NSW, will close early - it’s due to fully shut down by 2023 - but that this would be in the hands of private enterprise, not Labor’s policies.

“Those coal fire power station will close regardless of who is in office because that’s been determined by the market, we should be straightforward about that,” he said.

Mr Taylor seized on a forecast in the modelling that 82 per cent of power generation by 2030 would come from renewables, up from the current forecast of 68 per cent.

“The idea that we’re not going to lose coal-fired generation from these policies is extraordinary. 82 per cent renewables and no coal jobs lost. You’ve got to be joking,” he said.

“It isn’t clear how exemptions will work to emissions intensive trade exposed industries.

“The way they construct that will have a very big impact on jobs, a very big impact on regions, a very big impact on blue-collar workers in Australia.”

The government’s own modelling for its climate plan showed the value of coal production will be halved by 2050 no matter what Australia does on net zero.