By The Guardian (World News) | Created at 2024-10-01 06:25:11 | Updated at 2024-10-01 19:15:06
12 hours ago
David Crisafulli signalled he would extend the life of a coal-fired power station, as Steven Miles spruiked the government’s green credentials, on the first day of the official Queensland election campaign.
While Miles visited the governor, Jeannette Young, on Tuesday, to formally call the election, Crisafulli was in Bundaberg, the state’s most marginal seat, making a second youth crime commitment in as many days.
Questioned about his energy policy, the LNP opposition leader suggested he would not close Callide unit B when scheduled in 2028, if the renewables rollout could not keep up. Callide unit C, which blew up in 2021, reopened last month.
“The last thing Queenslanders want is for us to be prematurely closing power generation at a time when they can’t afford their bills and there isn’t sufficient supply into the market,” he said.
The party voted for the Labor government’s legislated 80% by 2035 carbon emissions reduction target earlier this year, but does not support its renewables target. Crisafulli last month said the target was “not possible”.
It also promises to cancel a gigantic planned pumped hydro scheme in central Queensland and instead build several smaller hydro projects.
The opposition leader has yet to detail where or when the smaller projects would be completed, or how much they would cost.
“It would be absurd to close down baseload power at a time when Queenslanders are struggling to eat,” Crisafulli said on Tuesday.
“But we do have a vision to make sure that there’s a renewable future, and that’s why I’ve spoken about the need to have a long-term plan.”
Callide unit B was commissioned in 1988.
The Queensland Conservation Council campaigner Stephanie Gray said any move to extend its life would be technically challenging, a disaster for reducing Queensland’s climate pollution and prohibitively expensive.
“We have a strong pipeline of renewable energy projects in Queensland and with policy certainty we could easily build enough new generation to replace Callide B, which has been scheduled for closure for decades,” Gray said.
Gray said the LNP ought to instead “just maintain policy certainty and support Queensland’s existing renewable energy targets”. QCC estimated power prices would rise about $200 if the state did not meet its renewable energy targets, with wholesale electricity prices rising up to 36%.
Tuesday was the official first day of the election period, with just 26 days left until the final ballots are cast.
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In a campaign flourish to highlight the government’s 50 cent fare policy, Miles caught the bus to the governor’s mansion this morning to ceremonially ask her for an election. The LNP has committed to retain the 50 cent fares regardless of who wins.
I’m on a 50 cent bus to see the Governor and officially start the election campaign.
This election is about who you trust most to tackle the cost of living and take our state forward.
I have clear plans – the other side has slick slogans.
That’s why I’m asking for your vote. pic.twitter.com/OUiWjdXpKI
The premier then travelled to Townsville for his first campaign stop, where he spruiked the government’s “energy and jobs plan” to achieve its renewables and emissions targets. The plan was legislated earlier this year.
Miles said independent modelling by Deloitte suggested the plan would unlock $270bn in new investment and 84,500 jobs in north Queensland and the outback by 2050.
The premier accused the opposition of hiding a secret agenda and lacking a positive vision for the state’s future.
“The choice for Queenslanders is really clear. Who do you trust to take our state forward?” he said in Brisbane.
“Because right now, the risks of going back are so great. David Crisafulli and the LNP, they’re playing small target politics, trying to avoid answering the hard questions. They expect to be able to slip into power with just slick slogans and soundbites, but they’re hiding their real agenda. Their real agenda is a risk to our state’s recovery.”
Crisafulli announced a $40m fund for businesses to pay for CCTV and other crime deterrence upgrades. He also promised not to form government in minority or put the Greens above Labor on the party’s how to vote card.
He also again confirmed the state party’s opposition to nuclear power, despite the federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, promising to push ahead over state objections if the Coalition is elected.
