Environmentalists slam new gas exploration sites
Environmentalists have slammed a state government's decision to open nine new gas exploration sites, claiming it will only support the international market.
The Queensland government will open the new fields spanning 16,000 square kilometres across the state to tap into further gas reserves.
The fields will span Cooper, Eromanga, Bowen and Surat basins in the state's regions using conventional gas extraction methods and coal seam gas.
Resources Minister Dale Last said the exploration sites will be vital to finding a new supply to meet the growing demand for energy across Australia amid fears of blackouts along the east coast.
"The best way to bring down energy prices is to have more energy in the market, and that starts with exploration," Mr Last said in a statement.
"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."
The Australian Energy Market Operator has previously issued blackout warnings in NSW and Queensland during summer due to high electricity demand and hot temperatures.
Natural gas accounted for more than a quarter of Australia's total energy consumption in 2022-23, with 1518 petajoules used.
Mr Last said "unscientific" decisions made by southern states have left Queensland carrying the load for the east coast gas market, leading to the need for more exploration.
"We need a regulatory framework that supports new development, instead of holding it back," he said.
But environmentalists have called the announcement devastating and deceitful.
"The government should be ashamed to look Queenslanders impacted by climate-fuelled disasters in the eye, and pretend that they care," Queensland Conservation Council Director Dave Copeman said.
Gas is Queensland's second-largest export behind coal, with the state producing 1550 petajoules of coal seam gas to supply both the international and domestic markets in 2024.
Mr Copeman said it is a false narrative that the new exploration sites will support other states and territories when the bulk of the gas is exported.
"No company is planning to pipe gas from the Bowen basin to Melbourne," he said.
Other environmental advocates also say the announcement will only benefit multinational gas companies instead of Queenslanders.
"The vast majority of Queensland's gas is destined for export, not for domestic use," Lock the Gate's Ellen Roberts said.
She called for an urgent moratorium on the gas expansions to prevent any possible damage to the land and underground water resources regional communities rely on.
The state government also announced it will carry out a three-month land release review starting on Wednesday to consider opening more gas exploration sites.
The review is set to look at the needs of the energy market as well as the environmental and community impacts.
It will consider changes to the land release expression of interest process, the land release area selection process, and the competitive tender process.
The state government's gas expansion decision follows a previous pledge to scrap ambitious emissions reduction targets, ordering a review of the legislation.
The former Labor government legislated 50 per cent emissions reduction targets by 2030, and 75 per cent by 2035.
The Liberal National government has said it is committed to net zero by 2050.
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