Alarm as LNP takes wind out of energy plan, renewables
Queensland's Liberal National government has been praised for a "nation-leading" home ownership scheme and record health funding after it handed down its first budget since 2014.
But the fiscal roadmap fell well short for environmentalists, who said it lacked an energy plan to secure investor confidence.
"One of the things we're seeing as a result of this lack of plan is that they're spending some money really unwisely," Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman told AAP.
Budget papers cemented the LNP's pre-election promise to scrap targets set by the former Labor government to reach 50 per cent renewable energy in the power grid by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035.
The state will no longer track how much renewable energy is contributing to the grid, calling it a "discontinued measure".
Renewable energy - including wind, solar and hydro - accounted for more than a quarter of the state's power in 2024/25 while coal contributed nearly 65 per cent, with the remainder supplied from gas.
Solar was the biggest contributor among renewable energy sources.
Mr Copeman said the energy system measurement metric provided investors with confidence about the state market's future for renewable projects.
He warned the LNP government's move might push investors away from Queensland because of a lack of clarity over the state's energy plan and transition time frame.
"Now that treasury and energy no longer have that metric, they don't have a plan, so they're really working a bit in the dark - that's not good for Queensland."
Mr Copeman also slammed the government's $1.6 billion plan to prop up ageing coal-fired power stations as a "waste of money".
The government's renewable energy stance appeared to be based on LNP stakeholder input, University of Queensland economist John Quiggin said.
"Essentially, you've got a lot of people who are just hostile to the whole idea for purely cultural reasons," he told AAP.
A bill set to pass state parliament on Wednesday will require renewable energy developers to undertake community consultation prior to project approvals.
But Treasurer David Janetzki promised to deliver his government's energy roadmap by the end of 2025.
He has backed the incomplete energy plan, celebrating $79 million to progress development of pumped-hydro projects at Mt Rawdon and Cressbrook along with another at Borumba for $355 million.
"We promised to fund smaller, more manageable pumped hydro projects and we are delivering on that promise," Mr Janetzki said.
The budget on Tuesday predicted a record $205 billion in debt by 2028/29.
A splash on housing paved the way for more first homebuyers, providing 30 per cent equity in new builds and 25 per cent in existing homes of up to $1 million for 1000 Queenslanders.
The "Boost to Buy" scheme will cost $165 million over the next two years and applies to singles earning up to $150,000 and couples up to $225,000.
A record health investment included an $18.5 billion plan to deliver 2600 new beds and three more hospitals.
A milestone budget has come under fire for lacking a renewable energy plan as industry leaders raise concerns investors might be turned away.
Queensland's Liberal National government has been praised for a "nation-leading" home ownership scheme and record health funding after it handed down its first budget since 2014.
But the fiscal roadmap fell well short for environmentalists, who said it lacked an energy plan to secure investor confidence.
"One of the things we're seeing as a result of this lack of plan is that they're spending some money really unwisely," Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman told AAP.
Budget papers cemented the LNP's pre-election promise to scrap targets set by the former Labor government to reach 50 per cent renewable energy in the power grid by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035.
The state will no longer track how much renewable energy is contributing to the grid, calling it a "discontinued measure".
Renewable energy - including wind, solar and hydro - accounted for more than a quarter of the state's power in 2024/25 while coal contributed nearly 65 per cent, with the remainder supplied from gas.
Solar was the biggest contributor among renewable energy sources.
Mr Copeman said the energy system measurement metric provided investors with confidence about the state market's future for renewable projects.
He warned the LNP government's move might push investors away from Queensland because of a lack of clarity over the state's energy plan and transition time frame.
"Now that treasury and energy no longer have that metric, they don't have a plan, so they're really working a bit in the dark - that's not good for Queensland."
Mr Copeman also slammed the government's $1.6 billion plan to prop up ageing coal-fired power stations as a "waste of money".
The government's renewable energy stance appeared to be based on LNP stakeholder input, University of Queensland economist John Quiggin said.
"Essentially, you've got a lot of people who are just hostile to the whole idea for purely cultural reasons," he told AAP.
A bill set to pass state parliament on Wednesday will require renewable energy developers to undertake community consultation prior to project approvals.
But Treasurer David Janetzki promised to deliver his government's energy roadmap by the end of 2025.
He has backed the incomplete energy plan, celebrating $79 million to progress development of pumped-hydro projects at Mt Rawdon and Cressbrook along with another at Borumba for $355 million.
"We promised to fund smaller, more manageable pumped hydro projects and we are delivering on that promise," Mr Janetzki said.
The budget on Tuesday predicted a record $205 billion in debt by 2028/29.
A splash on housing paved the way for more first homebuyers, providing 30 per cent equity in new builds and 25 per cent in existing homes of up to $1 million for 1000 Queenslanders.
The "Boost to Buy" scheme will cost $165 million over the next two years and applies to singles earning up to $150,000 and couples up to $225,000.
A record health investment included an $18.5 billion plan to deliver 2600 new beds and three more hospitals.
A milestone budget has come under fire for lacking a renewable energy plan as industry leaders raise concerns investors might be turned away.
Queensland's Liberal National government has been praised for a "nation-leading" home ownership scheme and record health funding after it handed down its first budget since 2014.
But the fiscal roadmap fell well short for environmentalists, who said it lacked an energy plan to secure investor confidence.
"One of the things we're seeing as a result of this lack of plan is that they're spending some money really unwisely," Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman told AAP.
Budget papers cemented the LNP's pre-election promise to scrap targets set by the former Labor government to reach 50 per cent renewable energy in the power grid by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035.
The state will no longer track how much renewable energy is contributing to the grid, calling it a "discontinued measure".
Renewable energy - including wind, solar and hydro - accounted for more than a quarter of the state's power in 2024/25 while coal contributed nearly 65 per cent, with the remainder supplied from gas.
Solar was the biggest contributor among renewable energy sources.
Mr Copeman said the energy system measurement metric provided investors with confidence about the state market's future for renewable projects.
He warned the LNP government's move might push investors away from Queensland because of a lack of clarity over the state's energy plan and transition time frame.
"Now that treasury and energy no longer have that metric, they don't have a plan, so they're really working a bit in the dark - that's not good for Queensland."
Mr Copeman also slammed the government's $1.6 billion plan to prop up ageing coal-fired power stations as a "waste of money".
The government's renewable energy stance appeared to be based on LNP stakeholder input, University of Queensland economist John Quiggin said.
"Essentially, you've got a lot of people who are just hostile to the whole idea for purely cultural reasons," he told AAP.
A bill set to pass state parliament on Wednesday will require renewable energy developers to undertake community consultation prior to project approvals.
But Treasurer David Janetzki promised to deliver his government's energy roadmap by the end of 2025.
He has backed the incomplete energy plan, celebrating $79 million to progress development of pumped-hydro projects at Mt Rawdon and Cressbrook along with another at Borumba for $355 million.
"We promised to fund smaller, more manageable pumped hydro projects and we are delivering on that promise," Mr Janetzki said.
The budget on Tuesday predicted a record $205 billion in debt by 2028/29.
A splash on housing paved the way for more first homebuyers, providing 30 per cent equity in new builds and 25 per cent in existing homes of up to $1 million for 1000 Queenslanders.
The "Boost to Buy" scheme will cost $165 million over the next two years and applies to singles earning up to $150,000 and couples up to $225,000.
A record health investment included an $18.5 billion plan to deliver 2600 new beds and three more hospitals.
A milestone budget has come under fire for lacking a renewable energy plan as industry leaders raise concerns investors might be turned away.
Queensland's Liberal National government has been praised for a "nation-leading" home ownership scheme and record health funding after it handed down its first budget since 2014.
But the fiscal roadmap fell well short for environmentalists, who said it lacked an energy plan to secure investor confidence.
"One of the things we're seeing as a result of this lack of plan is that they're spending some money really unwisely," Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman told AAP.
Budget papers cemented the LNP's pre-election promise to scrap targets set by the former Labor government to reach 50 per cent renewable energy in the power grid by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035.
The state will no longer track how much renewable energy is contributing to the grid, calling it a "discontinued measure".
Renewable energy - including wind, solar and hydro - accounted for more than a quarter of the state's power in 2024/25 while coal contributed nearly 65 per cent, with the remainder supplied from gas.
Solar was the biggest contributor among renewable energy sources.
Mr Copeman said the energy system measurement metric provided investors with confidence about the state market's future for renewable projects.
He warned the LNP government's move might push investors away from Queensland because of a lack of clarity over the state's energy plan and transition time frame.
"Now that treasury and energy no longer have that metric, they don't have a plan, so they're really working a bit in the dark - that's not good for Queensland."
Mr Copeman also slammed the government's $1.6 billion plan to prop up ageing coal-fired power stations as a "waste of money".
The government's renewable energy stance appeared to be based on LNP stakeholder input, University of Queensland economist John Quiggin said.
"Essentially, you've got a lot of people who are just hostile to the whole idea for purely cultural reasons," he told AAP.
A bill set to pass state parliament on Wednesday will require renewable energy developers to undertake community consultation prior to project approvals.
But Treasurer David Janetzki promised to deliver his government's energy roadmap by the end of 2025.
He has backed the incomplete energy plan, celebrating $79 million to progress development of pumped-hydro projects at Mt Rawdon and Cressbrook along with another at Borumba for $355 million.
"We promised to fund smaller, more manageable pumped hydro projects and we are delivering on that promise," Mr Janetzki said.
The budget on Tuesday predicted a record $205 billion in debt by 2028/29.
A splash on housing paved the way for more first homebuyers, providing 30 per cent equity in new builds and 25 per cent in existing homes of up to $1 million for 1000 Queenslanders.
The "Boost to Buy" scheme will cost $165 million over the next two years and applies to singles earning up to $150,000 and couples up to $225,000.
A record health investment included an $18.5 billion plan to deliver 2600 new beds and three more hospitals.
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It follows Mr Watt issuing an apology to South Australians on Monday, who feel the government's response to the bloom has been too slow. But the federal government hopes a recently announced jointly funded $28 million package will be enough to fix the damage. The package is expected to support affected businesses, undertake more research and clean up the beaches where thousands of dead marine animals have washed up. Federal leaders are visiting Adelaide on Wednesday, with Mr Watt arriving for a second time to meet with impacted businesses, industry and the community and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley touring impacted areas. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also expected to visit South Australia later this week about the bloom. Local businesses have reported a loss of income as a result of the bloom, with a recent survey by the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia revealing some have already experienced summer cancellations. "I'm one of the busiest charter operators in the state but the phone isn't ringing," Reel Screamer Fishing Charters owner Kevin Sweeney told AAP on Tuesday. There has been an average $52,000 loss for businesses due to a lull in tourism customers, mostly from South Australia, over fears of the algal bloom. The algal bloom is attributed to 2022-23 Murray floodwaters pushing nutrients into the ocean, an upwelling of nutrient-rich water from deep off the continental shelf caused by changing ocean currents, and a 2.5C marine heatwave that started in 2024. An unprecedented algal bloom may lead to more marine life being added to the threatened species list as the toxic event kills thousands of sea creatures. Tens of thousands of marine animals have been killed since an algal bloom was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia in March, and has since spread along some of the coastline. An expert assessment of the impact of the toxic algal bloom has been expedited by the federal government to understand the impact on marine life. The bloom has resulted in more than 400 species of marine life, including sharks, rays and fish, washing up along the coastline. The assessment will determine if any additional species need to be added to the threatened list, which already includes whitefin swellshark, longnose skate, greeneye spurdog, grey skate, and coastal stingaree. If any additional species are added to the list, it may trigger the development of conservation plans. It is a similar process to the assessment after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires that saw the south-eastern glossy black cockatoo and mountain skink added to the threatened species list. "We can leave no stone unturned to understand the impact of this on local marine life, so we can begin investing in the appropriate strategies to bring these important animals back to healthy numbers," Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement on Wednesday. It follows Mr Watt issuing an apology to South Australians on Monday, who feel the government's response to the bloom has been too slow. But the federal government hopes a recently announced jointly funded $28 million package will be enough to fix the damage. The package is expected to support affected businesses, undertake more research and clean up the beaches where thousands of dead marine animals have washed up. Federal leaders are visiting Adelaide on Wednesday, with Mr Watt arriving for a second time to meet with impacted businesses, industry and the community and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley touring impacted areas. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also expected to visit South Australia later this week about the bloom. Local businesses have reported a loss of income as a result of the bloom, with a recent survey by the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia revealing some have already experienced summer cancellations. "I'm one of the busiest charter operators in the state but the phone isn't ringing," Reel Screamer Fishing Charters owner Kevin Sweeney told AAP on Tuesday. There has been an average $52,000 loss for businesses due to a lull in tourism customers, mostly from South Australia, over fears of the algal bloom. The algal bloom is attributed to 2022-23 Murray floodwaters pushing nutrients into the ocean, an upwelling of nutrient-rich water from deep off the continental shelf caused by changing ocean currents, and a 2.5C marine heatwave that started in 2024.
