Brown plan would lead to job losses

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson has defended the Queensland coal industry in the face of a flying visit from Greens Senator Bob Brown who has called for a moratorium on new coal mines and a cap on coal exports.

Minister Wilson said that Senator Brown’s plan would not make a big difference to global greenhouse gas emissions and would lead to job losses.

“The billion dollars that we receive in mining royalties each year helps build our schools and hospitals. It puts police on the beat and teachers in our classrooms,” Mr Wilson said.

“It’s time to stand up for Queensland’s coal industry and the 18,600 men and women who work in our coal mines.

“The resources boom is a magnet for jobs and job security. To back this booming industry, the State Government is investing $300 million in clean coal technology projects.

“By investing in our billion dollar industry, we’re investing in the workers at the coal face. We’re investing in their future,” Mr Wilson said.

“We have to strike the right balance between the need to produce coal and the need to protect our environment.

“That’s why we’re investing in a world-first demonstration power plant to capture and store carbon emissions.

“The ZeroGen project is being developed by the government-owned Stanwell Corporation near Rockhampton.

“If it gets the green light, ZeroGen will be the first power plant in the world to integrate the technologies of coal gasification and carbon capture and storage, to produce baseload electricity with low CO² emissions.

“It could capture and store up to 420,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. That’s equivalent to taking 93,000 cars off the road for the same period.

“It will also lead to the creation of around 700 jobs in the construction phase and up to 150 permanent jobs during its operation.

“So not only are we securing jobs in regional Queensland, ZeroGen has the potential to achieve deep cuts in CO² emissions.

“Coal gasification is the cleanest method of converting coal’s energy potential into the electricity we need to get on with our daily lives.

“If the project’s successful, Queensland could be in the position to sell this technology to China and India, some of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Wilson said.

“We’re doing everything we can to move ZeroGen closer to reality, but a project of this scale and significance is unlikely to happen without the full support of the federal government.

“Unfortunately, the lion’s share of federal government funding is being fed into Victoria for brown coal projects. There’s no funding for ZeroGen.

“Federal Labor however, has shown foresight and has backed its bold clean coal initiative with a $500 million funding commitment. All up, Federal Labor has pledged three times as much as the Howard Government.

“Federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd has a plan that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and protects our $23 billion coal export industry.

“Compare that to the federal government which is backing brown coal projects in Victoria.

“Brown coal is the dirtiest coal in the country. It has around 30% higher greenhouse gas emissions than black coal. It’s basically sludge and a significantly less efficient fuel source than Queensland’s black coal.

“Coal will continue to play a role in the global electricity mix, and meeting climate change will require solutions that have significant global impact.

“That’s why Queensland is on the front foot,” Mr Wilson said.

Media Inquiries: Ellen McIntyre 3225 1819