Clean Economy Jobs Bill 2024

Spoke in support of the cognate bills, emphasising the need for renewable energy transformation and criticising the LNP's approach.

“I rise to speak in support of the cognate bills.”— 2024-04-18View Hansard

As Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs, moved the bills and strongly advocated for Queensland's energy transition, emphasising job creation, public ownership of energy assets, and meeting renewable energy targets.

“These bills are a planned and methodical approach to enact real change, a change to bring more jobs and a healthier environment and a better future for our children and theirs. These are profound, multigenerational reforms.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Welcomed the LNP's decision not to oppose the Clean Economy Jobs Bill, noting it implies support for vegetation management laws critical to emissions reduction targets.

“Credit should go where credit is due. With regard to the clean economy bill, I note that the member for Bonney announced that the LNP would not be opposing the bill. That is great news, it is welcome news because of what it means. It means that the LNP now supports our vegetation management laws.”— 2024-04-18View Hansard

As committee chair, strongly supported the bills, highlighted extensive consultation process including regional hearings, and praised the Queensland Energy Workers' Charter and workforce transition planning.

“I rise to support the Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill 2023 and the Clean Economy Jobs Bill 2024. I am pleased the LNP will be supporting both of these bills in cognate, but I would ask—as the member for Bonney just said—what is their pathway to the targets?”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Opposed the cognate bills, arguing the renewable energy targets would harm regional communities and that profits from renewable projects go overseas rather than to Queenslanders.

“We are also seeing that the profits are returned to the state government or whomever it may be—profits that would have looked after our children, our schools and our roads. I cannot support this bill.”— 2024-04-18View Hansard

As shadow minister, stated LNP supports renewable energy and the targets but cannot support legislating them without a credible pathway, expressing concerns about pumped hydro costs, lack of business cases, and impacts on regional communities.

“The LNP supports the targets, but we cannot support to legislate them when there is no credible pathway to achieve them. In fact, this bill is predicated on that one major project.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported the bills as essential for Queensland's economic future, citing Deloitte modelling showing $430 billion in additional economic value and 415,000 jobs.

“Independent modelling released today by Deloitte Access Economics forecasts that our 75 per cent emissions reduction target by 2035 will deliver $430 billion in additional value for the Queensland economy supporting an additional 415,000 jobs, with 85 per cent of those in the regions.”— 2024-04-18View Hansard

Strongly supported the bills, emphasising emissions reduction targets provide certainty for investment and praised Queensland exceeding its 2030 target early.

“I am really proud to rise today to speak in favour of these significant bills—the Clean Economy Jobs Bill 2024 and the Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill 2023.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Commended both bills to the House, emphasising the government's commitment to public ownership and emission reduction.

“Under Labor, Queensland's assets are not for sale and they never will be.”— 2024-04-18View Hansard

Stated the emissions bill sets targets reliant on technologies that do not yet exist, but indicated the LNP will not oppose as they are aspirational and not binding.

“We support renewable energy but we do not trust this government to deliver it in any capacity.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill, highlighting his background as former Townsville councillor who advocated for Solar Cities, and praised CopperString 2032 and green hydrogen developments in North Queensland.

“The need is now, the opportunity is here, and the Miles Labor government will take the people of Queensland with us to a clean, green energy future which they have asked for and deserve.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Concerned about impacts on rural and regional jobs, called for industry plans and annual reporting on how targets will affect communities, and questioned whether alternative jobs would actually materialise.

“I will not accept my communities being shut down because there is no industry and there is no future.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

As Minister for Environment, strongly supported the bills emphasising environmental benefits, highlighting the threat of climate change to the Great Barrier Reef and praising the Premier's leadership in setting the 75% by 2035 emissions target.

“We need to act now. The science is clear and the climate wars should be over.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Acknowledged the importance of the energy transition but criticised the lack of transparency and consultation, calling for the debate to be adjourned so amendments could go through proper committee process.

“As this transition happens it needs to be done sensibly and with open consultation. It needs to be done with transparency.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Moved an amendment to defer consideration of the bill until the government commits to halting new coal and gas approvals and adopts a 75% emissions reduction target by 2030, arguing current targets are inadequate to meet Paris Agreement commitments.

“The government's targets not only keep us on a path to overshoot Paris Agreement commitments, but they leave out Queensland's most significant contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions, namely, our coal and gas exports.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Argued the bill's targets are a pipedream, will cost up to $14 billion per year, and criticised the lack of environmental impact studies on wildlife. Noted the word 'jobs' appears in the title but barely in the bill itself.

“The Clean Economy Jobs Bill includes the word 'jobs' in the title, but apart from there the word does not appear anywhere else in the bill—nowhere.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported the bill for enshrining emissions reduction targets in law, establishing the Clean Economy Export Panel, and creating over 100,000 clean economy jobs while addressing the real impacts of climate change on communities.

“The Miles government is taking a considered and collaborative approach to transitioning our economy towards a clean economy future.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported the emissions reduction targets of 30% by 2030, 75% by 2035 and net zero by 2050, and the establishment of a clean economy expert panel to facilitate the transition.

“We need to treat the opposition's nuclear pipedream with the contempt it deserves.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Criticised central planning approach and warned that imposing mandatory emissions targets could harm agricultural industries. Cited concerns from AgForce, Canegrowers and QFF about unachievable targets adding cost burdens to farming.

“It is risky to assume that by simply imposing mandatory emissions targets industry will be able to conform within the stated time frames.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported the bill for establishing emissions reduction targets and the Clean Economy Expert Panel, noting stakeholders generally supported legislating targets as a means to establish Queensland's emissions reduction commitments.

“By legislating the targets, the bill aims to create policy certainty to attract investment in new industries in decarbonising the state's existing industries and support the creation of more job opportunities.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported the bill for enshrining emissions targets (30% by 2030, 75% by 2035, net zero by 2050) and creating secure jobs in emerging clean economy industries like hydrogen, critical metals and advanced manufacturing.

“The reform that the Miles government has undertaken including this bill, which is our plan to decarbonise Queensland, is one to be immeasurably proud of.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Criticised the government for not pursuing biofuels and ethanol mandates which could reduce vehicle emissions at no cost to consumers, while forcing renewables without choice. Argued nuclear should be allowed if serious about carbon reductions.

“We certainly will not run from the nuclear argument. If you are serious about reducing carbon emissions then that has to play a role.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported legislating emissions reduction targets to send clear market signals. Criticised the LNP for being behind on the energy debate and accused them of undermining pumped hydro which is fundamental to storage and dispatchability.

“We are serious about it and we want to send out clear market signals to ensure more clean energy infrastructure is built.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported the emissions reduction targets and warned that the LNP cannot be trusted, citing their backflip on the Path to Treaty vote as evidence they would reverse their opposition to nuclear power if the federal LNP won government.

“It is only a Labor government that can be trusted on the environment, on energy and on jobs.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported the bill for setting up Queensland's economy for the next 100 years, securing regional jobs, and protecting the Great Barrier Reef. Challenged the LNP Leader to hold an energy forum in Central Queensland.

“This bill will provide the framework to investment certainty to make this happen—to provide high-paying, generational, clean energy jobs across the state.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported the LNP amendments for transparency and ensuring more workers are covered by the Job Security Guarantee. Criticised the Premier and Treasurer for disagreeing by $6 billion on the Pioneer-Burdekin hydro project cost.

“What must be on the public record is that the jobs threatened by this bill cannot and will not be replaced by jobs in renewables.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported the bill for cutting emissions by 75% by 2035, creating new industries and continued competitiveness for existing industries, and acknowledged the trade union movement's 'Not for sale' campaign for saving energy assets.

“It is Labor that reopened Swanbank Power Station, it is Labor that brought back our Swanbank workers, and it is Labor that is investing over $300 million in a big battery at Swanbank.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Supported the bill as delivering the sensible plan on climate change that people in his community want, rejecting both the extremism of road-blocking protests and the LNP's approach of burying their heads in the sand.

“People reject the extremism of gluing yourself to the road and all of those extreme actions that disrupt people's lives. They reject the LNP's approach of burying your head in the sand and pretending there is no problem here.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard

Opposed the bill arguing renewable energy claims of being cheaper are not reflected in actual electricity prices which are going up. Criticised the government's subsidies as masking the real cost and hurting businesses.

“The government can subsidise all they want, but that is not doing anything for the real price of electricity in Queensland and the people out there know that.”— 2024-04-17View Hansard