Leaked Best Practice Industry Conditions document reveals huge cost of Qld renewable energy projects

A secret document reveals the shocking cost that a union deal will cost taxpayers in the state’s multibillion-dollar pipeline of renewable energy projects.

Queensland’s multibillion-dollar pipeline of renewable energy projects could cost taxpayers even more than the eye-watering costs predicted, with the state government set to apply a stand-alone Best Practice Industry Conditions policy on the sector.

The Sunday Mail has obtained a leaked draft copy of a planned BPIC for renewable energy projects – which has not been made publicly available – being circulated among the industry which details the conditions and wages set to be applied to the projects.

It comes after the extraordinary perks and conditions detailed within the union-supported BPICs for construction projects were revealed this week, with claims the allowances were adding as much as 30 per cent to the cost of state government projects.

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni confirmed the existence of the document – but backed in BPICs.

“We’re having a look at that (renewable energy project BPICs) currently,” he said.

“We think that all government-led projects should deliver good wages and working conditions.

“Any project of substance should help that workforce tackle the rising cost of living.

“And so whether it’s on projects that are civil projects or construction projects, or renewable energy projects, we’ll have a look at all of those.”

Pressed on whether the government had consulted with the industry about the introduction of BPIC for renewable energy projects, Mr de Brenni said “of course”.

“We’ve consulted the civil construction industry, most of renewable energy projects, the same as a road construction project.

“They require a lot of access roads, a lot of crane work, dam building etc. And so similar type of workforce, so we’ll be working on those like projects like this one, a railway or a tunnel.”

A basic model of what pumped hydro would look like.

It comes after The Courier-Mail last week revealed the cost of the government’s flagship Pioneer-Burdekin project would likely be at least $18bn – although some estimates push that even higher – and Premier Steven Miles said the government did not know exactly how much it would cost.

But the Energy Minister said he was “not at all concerned” the implementation of the policy would drive up costs and leave taxpayers with a hefty bill.

“In fact, Queensland has its clean energy transition much better on track than almost anywhere else in the world,” he said. “That’s because of our retention of public ownership. We would not be able to deliver the 100,000 jobs in the clean economic transition if LNP had their way and privatised Queensland’s energy system.”

Originally published as Leaked Best Practice Industry Conditions document reveals huge cost of Qld renewable energy projects