LNP commits to keep coal-fired power stations open ‘indefinitely’

David Crisafulli will keep Queensland’s coal-fired power stations open ‘indefinitely’ if he is elected to ensure energy remains ‘reliable and affordable’.

Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli during a media conference in Mackay. Picture: Liam Kidston.

David Crisafulli will keep Queensland’s coal-fired power stations open indefinitely if he is elected to ensure energy remains “reliable and affordable” during the transition to renewables, despite voting in favour of Labor’s laws to slash 75 per cent of carbon emissions over the next decade.

The Liberal National Party leader said Queensland had the youngest fleet of coal-fired power plants in the country and he would keep them maintained and operational.

“We will continue to ensure that they operate whilst they are needed to form part of the mix of affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity,” he said.

“There is no way the vast ­majority of thinking Queenslanders would want us to shut off baseload power before the capacity of the next generation of energy has been developed.”

Asked if that meant they would run indefinitely, Mr Crisafulli said: “Well, I guess the ­answer to that is yes. We need the baseload power that comes from those coal-fired power generators.

“We also need to have a vision to make sure that we are part of a transition to renewable energy, but it’s got to be done in a way that makes sure that Queenslanders can continue to afford their bills whilst we work towards the future.”

Mr Crisafulli, who has also committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, is yet to release a detailed plan on how that would be achieved.

His party in April voted to support Labor’s legislated plan to cut 75 per cent of emissions – on 2005 levels – by 2035, but Mr Crisafulli has not set a renewable energy target.

Labor is relying on the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project, near Mackay, to enable it to shut down the state’s five coal-fired power stations and reach its ­target of 80 per cent renewable energy by 2035.

The project is still being subjected to financial, engineering and environmental investi­gations and is yet to get government approvals or substantive funding.

Initial estimates put the project at $12bn but that figure is expected to balloon after more detailed modelling is complete.

The Australian Conservation Foundation’s climate program manager Gavan McFadzean said Queensland was especially vulnerable to climate change.

“When David Crisafulli matched Labor’s 75 per cent by 2035 emission-reduction target in December, it seemed the LNP wanted to protect Queensland communities and the Great Barrier Reef. Now (he) has said he would keep coal-fired power running with no end date.

“Mr Crisafulli can’t have it both ways. Is he serious about tackling climate change, or is he proposing to keep coal-fired power stations open indefinitely?”