Palaszczuk parrots Gillard amid state carbon tax paper pressure

Annastacia Palaszczuk has been forced to quash suggestions the state would introduce its own carbon tax.

Queensland LNP Opposition Leader leader Tim Nicholls. ‘We only have to remember Julia Gillard.’ Picture: Darren England.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been forced to quash suggestions the state would introduce its own carbon tax, ­mirroring Julia Gillard’s notorious denial.

The Liberal National Party ­opposition leapt on an issues paper released by Energy Minister Mark Bailey that listed a state-imposed “fossil fuel generation levy” as a policy option to meet Queensland’s 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.

Generators could then pass on the cost of a levy to consumers, the Queensland Renewable ­Energy Expert Panel said.

Mr Bailey yesterday tried to stem the controversy by insisting that the issues paper was not government policy.

“The government’s commitment is there will be no new taxes, fees or charges, including a fossil fuel levy,” he said.

The statement did not stop Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls from seizing on the idea of a Queensland-imposed carbon tax, asking Ms Palaszczuk in parliament who was correct, Mr Bailey or ­Environment Minister Steven Miles.

Dr Miles had left the door open for such a measure in a radio interview yesterday morning.

Ms Palaszczuk told parliament: “Under the government I lead, it is very clear there is no state-based carbon tax.”

The phrase — which recalled Ms Gillard’s oft-repeated 2010 statement “there will be no ­carbon tax under a government I lead” — prompted howls of ­derision from the opposition benches.

Even federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt weighed in, using the state stoush as an ­opportunity to slug federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

“Bill Shorten and Annastacia Palaszczuk are teaming up to crush jobs and growth in Queensland,” Mr Hunt said.

Before Ms Palaszczuk’s ­answer in parliament, Mr Nicholls had told a press conference that it appeared Queenslanders were “being softened up for a ­carbon tax”.

“We know Labor has form,” he said.

“We only have to remember Julia Gillard saying ‘there will be no carbon tax in a government I lead’ and only one year later breaking her promise.”

The establishment of the ­independent expert panel was an election commitment from the Labor Party, aimed at devising policy mechanisms to increase ­investment in renewable energy.