David Crisafulli’s LNP to repeal Queensland’s renewable energy targets
Queensland’s legislated renewable energy target will be formally repealed by David Crisafulli if the LNP wins the election, in a move Labor says sends ‘the worst possible signal to investments’.
Queensland’s legislated renewable energy target will be formally repealed by David Crisafulli if the Liberal National Party wins the state election, in a move Labor says sends “the worst possible signal to investments”.
The LNP leader has already said he would axe a proposed pumped-hydro project Labor argues is critical to the state meeting its renewable energy and emission-reduction targets.
On Friday, Mr Crisafulli declared Queenslanders would be lumped with potentially higher energy costs and unreliable power if the government pursued a renewables target without a “credible plan to deliver”.
“We never backed the renewables target, and that legislation should be repealed,” he said.
Mr Crisafulli said the LNP had a “credible plan” for the transition to green energy. But the plan does not have a timeline, funding or approvals.
Premier Steven Miles has announced plans to build the world’s biggest pumped hydro project – the Pioneer-Burdekin near Mackay – but his government has delayed making a final investment decision on the project until after the election.
Pioneer-Burdekin, which Mr Crisafulli has labelled a “hoax”, is still being subjected to financial, engineering and environmental investigations and there is no business case for the project, which will cost at least $12bn.
Mr Miles conceded Queensland would fail to meet its long-range environmental targets if the major project didn’t go ahead, but said he was confident it would, adding it was much more advanced than the LNP’s “thought bubble” policy.
Mr Crisafulli wants to build smaller pumped hydro stations to meet the state’s baseload power needs but has refused to say how many would be constructed, where they would be located or how much they were expected to cost.
Both Labor and the LNP support the proposed Borumba hydro project near Gympie.
Mr Crisafulli, who successive polls suggest is on track to win a comfortable majority at the October 26 election, also indicated on Friday that a separate legislated target – to slash 75 per cent of carbon emissions by 2035 – could also be dumped.
“Our primary target, the biggest focus, is net zero by 2050; we will continue to make sure we are on the journey (and) that we have a credible path to get there,” he said. “But I think 2050 is the No.1 target.”
It followed his announcement earlier this week that a would-be LNP government would keep coal-fired power stations open indefinitely to ensure energy remained “reliable and affordable” during the transition to renewables.
“The government is desperately trying to paint a narrative that they know doesn’t exist in order to try to cling to some seats in the city of Brisbane,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“I’m being honest with Queenslanders and mapping out a plan that is affordable but can also deliver reliable and sustainable electricity.”
Deputy Premier Cameron Dick said the government’s energy plan, released in 2022, sent a “clear and direct signal to the investor market”.
“We are currently home to the second biggest investment profile for renewable energy in the country,” Mr Dick said.
“We are a place that is open for investment because we have a clear pathway for renewable energy, generation, transmission and storage that is now all at risk.
“I think (axing the renewables target) is the worst possible signal to send to investors … and David Crisafulli has just sent that signal to investors, not just here in Australia, but around the world.”
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