Flynn MP Colin Boyce defends claims about Gladstone’s emerging hydrogen industry and challenges Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne on climate change
The LNP’s Colin Boyce has defended labelling hydrogen “dangerous” and challenged a Queensland Greens Senator to “produce the data” on her climate change claims. Here’s what the Flynn MP said about hydrogen’s growth in Central Qld.
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An outspoken Central Queensland MP has defended labelling hydrogen “dangerous” and rubbished claims he does not support the emerging industry as he put a fresh challenge out to climate change advocates.
The new Flynn MP, Colin Boyce, who represents a large portion of coastal Central Queensland, has said reports claiming he does not support the hydrogen industry in Gladstone are “false” but reiterated his concerns around government subsidies and technology.
Mr Boyce said the practical and economic reality of developing hydrogen on an industrial scale had not yet been investigated or properly understood.
“I support the development of new technology including hydrogen, however, I would question the huge amounts of government subsidies that have been allocated to such proposals, particularly when there are many issues that have not been satisfactorily addressed,” Mr Boyce said.
“I have no doubt that a hydrogen industry will be developed in Gladstone ... (but) it should be the market that provides the bulk of the investment to such proposals, not the government,” he said.
It follows his maiden speech in federal parliament last week where he labelled hydrogen “extremely dangerous”, “extremely flammable”, and critiqued specific qualities which made storage and transport difficult.
Recent media coverage on the safety of the emerging industry prompted the Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) to reassure Queenslanders about safety and the opportunity in front of them.
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AHC CEO Dr Fiona Simon said the hydrogen industry was working to build a safe hydrogen industry that benefited Australians economically and environmentally by working with regulators to mirror international standards and establish regulatory frameworks.
“Queenslanders are used to dealing with gases and fuels every day and they are safe because of industry standards, training and engineering that supports them,” Dr Simon said.
“Green hydrogen can play a crucial role in emissions reductions and Queensland has shown great ambition to lead the way, with construction beginning on the world’s largest electrolyser facility in Gladstone,” she said.
Mr Boyce also slammed the maiden speech of newly-elected Greens Senator, and fellow Central Queenslander, Penny Allman-Payne, after she said the cost of climate change should be born by the coal and gas industry.
“I’d like to know what that means of the people who live in these electorates, such as Flynn where there are 10,000 jobs in the coal industry alone,” he said.
“What she wants to do is close down the coal and gas industry ... in her maiden speech she says climate change has caused more severe and frequent natural disasters, I’ll throw a challenge out to the Senator to produce the data that says that.”
Senator Allman-Payne said workers across regional Queensland knew the transition to low-emission industries was happening and they did not appreciate being lied to by the LNP.
“The member for Flynn knows that coal and gas are on the way out, but he’s not allowed to say that because without coal and gas donations he wouldn’t have a job,” Ms Allman-Payne said.
“The Greens want well-paid, stable employment for people across regional Queensland, and we’re working to secure that future,” she said.
State Gladstone MP, Glenn Butcher reaffirmed his commitment to welcoming green hydrogen in the Port City and slammed Mr Boyce’s recent comments about potential dangers.
“For the newly-elected federal member to come out in his maiden speech and talk down the development of the new industry in Gladstone, is an absolute disgrace ... to double down on his position in media this week, is even worse,” Mr Butcher said.
“Whether it be manufacturing hydrogen infrastructure, or the development of new clean energy facilities in Gladstone – fully backed by the Palaszczuk Labor Government – this emerging industry is only good news for locals,” he said.
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