By MICHAEL SLOVANOS
THE Queensland Government has opened up nine new areas for gas exploration across the Cooper/Eromanga and Bowen/Surat Basins to boost future supply, but councils in the same area who run an organisation called The Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) are pushing “decarbonisation”.
The councils – Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac – and their GW3 “economic development” group need to make up their mind exactly what they want, or do their leaders suffer from economic schizophrenia?
They themselves admit that the mining and METS (mining equipment, technology and services) industry makes the largest contribution to economic output in the region, totaling $44.7B of total output yet their so-called decarbonisation project has been given “accelerated” status.
Cairns News has emailed GW3 chairman Tony Caruso asking why his organisation is promoting “decarbonisation” while acknowledging that coal is the biggest industry in the region. We would like to know if GW3 is proposing to scale down the coal and gas industry and actively promote renewable energy.
GW3 suggests on its own website that the mining and METS industry is “flexing into the renewables, critical minerals and rare earth space and charts a course toward decarbonisation and increased sustainability, in line with legislated Queensland and Australian Net Zero targets.”
Does this mean there will be no coal or gas industry in Queensland by 2050? After all, that is the date that Queensland’s Clean Economy Jobs Act 2024 declares will be when “net greenhouse gas emissions in Queensland are reduced to zero”.
So are councils just throwing out trendy, virtue-signalling catch phrases or are they suggesting that the coal industry, their economic lifeblood, has to be wound down in the future? They need to make up their mind what they really want.
And then there’s Logan City Council and an organisation Called the Queensland Community Alliance pushing a grand scheme to promote solar power for renters, which they claim can save the average Queensland household up to $3039 a year.
Their message is electrify with a battery, installation costs for which, incidentally, range from $10-$20,000 fully installed with an inverter. Those without solar will also be up for the solar system and installation costing $9-$11,000.
That said, you cannot run heavy industry or a national electricity system on solar panels and wind turbines. There must be gas turbines to fill the frequent gaps, rises and falls in renewable supply, which is why coal-fired power is invaluable in providing a solid, predictable 24×7 supply.
Meanwhile the State Government has started a three-month land release review “to modernise and streamline how gas exploration areas are identified and released.”
“Initiatives are aimed at unlocking supply and driving new gas investment to bring down energy prices,” Dale Last, the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development announced.
That is a step in the right direction, but if Crisafuli and company were really serious, they would repeal or drastically downgrade the demands of the so-called Clean Economy Jobs Act by amendments.
“The Crisafulli government is taking action to drive down energy prices by attracting new investment in Queensland’s gas industry,” says Mr Dale.
We would hope so, because ever-increasing electricity prices are killing the Australian economy. The reality is you can’t have industry with an expensive, unreliable energy supply. New Zealand recently had a rude awakening in that area.
Mr Dale said said the nine new areas will made available for tender across the Cooper/Eromanga and Bowen/Surat Basins from May 29th. “The tender areas include both conventional and unconventional gas opportunities,” he said.
“Production from the tenure release would put downward pressure on energy prices, after Labor’s anti-gas policies sent investment off a cliff.”
But of course Crisafuli and company must pay their mandatory indulgences to the green religion: “Importantly, no land release areas intersect with the Lake Eyre Basin Strategic Environmental Area – Designated Precinct.”
Mr Last said the initiatives will make Queensland more attractive for gas investment. “The best way to bring down energy prices is to have more energy in the market, and that starts with exploration,” he said.
“These steps are about unlocking new supply, securing an investment pipeline and getting the right policy settings in place so Queensland can lead the way on energy security.
“Unscientific decisions made by the southern states have left Queensland carrying the load for the east coast gas market. We need a regulatory framework that supports new development, instead of holding it back.
“The 2025 Land Release Review will ensure land is made available in a way that balances the needs of the resources sector with environmental, agricultural, and community interests.
“It will consider changes to the land release expression of interest process, the land release area selection process, and the competitive tender process.”
The Minister’s media release quoted Australian Energy Producers CEO Samantha McCulloch as saying the announcements demonstrated Queensland’s strong commitment to ensuring reliable and affordable energy for Queenslanders.
“We particularly welcome the announcement that tenders for nine parcels of land for gas and petroleum exploration are now open – a critical step in securing the future gas supply Australian households and industry will need,” she said.
“Queensland is already doing the heavy lifting to keep the lights on and ensure reliable gas supply along the east coast of Australia.
“Queensland’s energy leadership continues to drive economic growth and underpin billions in royalties that fund essential services and commend the government’s proactive approach to unlocking the state’s natural gas potential and securing its energy future.
“The Queensland gas industry is powering the state’s economy, supporting jobs, regional communities and spending more than $80 billion with local businesses each year.”
