This week has been detrimental for climate initiatives in Queensland. Today, the government in Queensland revealed plans to permit gas exploration across a vast area of 16,000 square kilometers – a decision that will significantly increase carbon emissions in the Sunshine State.
Yesterday, David Janetzki, the Queensland Treasurer and Energy Minister, promoted the government's investment of $1.4 billion into coal power facilities to an audience filled with influential figures from the fossil fuel sector at the Australian Energy Producers Conference.
The previous day to government reversed its decision and canceled a wind farm that had received approval six months earlier. This action created upheaval within the renewable energy community and added to the uncertainty in a state lacking an energy strategy.
Considering the present social and political climate, it is astonishing that Premier David Crisafulli and the Queensland government are not learning from the federal election outcomes; instead, they appear to be further straying from the right path.
The federal Coalition lost the election due to a policy package that lacked substantive details, seemingly crafted to resonate with older men who dismiss climate change. They paid more attention to their aging supporters rather than the broader Australian population.
The reality is that Millennials and Gen Z are becoming the driving force behind electoral decisions, indicating that the Liberals and Nationals may find it challenging to secure victories without a strong climate strategy.
Six electorates held by the LNP align with federal districts that recently shifted from Coalition to Labor – if this trend continues in the upcoming state election, it could lead to the Queensland LNP losing its majority. Additionally, there were federal districts in Queensland where Labor experienced enough of a swing that, if repeated, could result in the loss of seven more state LNP seats.
The Crisafulli Government is particularly exposed in regions enthusiastic about climate responsibility, such as Far North Queensland, which has a deep connection to the Great Barrier Reef, along with suburban areas of Brisbane.
Recent polling indicated that between 74-78 percent of Millennials and Gen Z stated climate change would impact their voting decisions, which is logical since it is our generation facing the brunt of the consequences. We are unwilling to pay the toll and rebuild after disastrous events. We don’t want to witness the decline of the planet’s biodiversity during our lifetimes. We aspire for a just opportunity for our future – it’s not complicated.
Last year, the Queensland LNP succeeded in the state election because leader David Crisafulli recognized the necessity to appeal to the political center of Australia and to alleviate climate change as a point of contention. They accomplished this by rejecting nuclear energy and voting to legally enshrine Queensland's goal of reducing emissions by 75 percent by 2035 prior to the election.
At the time of Queensland's election in October last year, surveys indicated that the public perceived David Crisafulli as more moderate and better for environmental issues than Peter Dutton.
However, since that time, the Crisafulli Government has altered its stance.
The energy minister, David Janetzki, has recently announced plans to abolish Queensland’s well-received renewable energy objectives, consider extending the operation of coal plants beyond their intended closure times, and reassess the goal of reducing emissions by 75 percent.
If they implement these changes, they will not only be going back on their word to the people of Queensland but also prioritizing ideology over the practicality of economics and stable energy sources.
The outdated coal facilities in Queensland were out of service an astonishing 78 times during the last summer. The reliability of coal power is diminishing, and when these plants fail, it leads to an increase in wholesale electricity costs.
Rather than pouring billions of taxpayer dollars into maintaining coal operations, the sensible approach for the Queensland government would be to prepare for the phase-out of these facilities, ensure stability for the industry, and promote the growth of renewable energy and storage options. This is essentially the opposite of reversing their decision on a wind farm they had previously greenlighted.
Residents of Queensland are already feeling the repercussions of more severe and frequent unnatural disasters. We are facing increased costs for insurance and groceries, while fossil fuel companies, responsible for emitting climate pollutants, are reaping massive profits and attending expensive conferences priced over $1,000 per person.
The Insurance Council of Australia indicates that the flooding in North Queensland this summer, along with ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, incurred costs of $1.5 billion. With three more summers until the next state election, Queenslanders can expect to endure more severe and unprecedented weather events.
The outcome of the federal election sends a strong message: younger voters are largely in favor of government investments that ensure their safety in the future.
Premier David Crisafulli and Energy Minister David Janetzki need to heed this message rather than listen to the climate-denying elements within their party. With Millennials and Gen Z now influencing decisions, their political longevity relies on it. A handful of likes from Baby Boomers on social media will not alter the prevailing trends.
Stephanie Gray, a millennial, serves as a Senior Campaigner at the Queensland Conservation Council.
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