2020 State Election Campaign
Addressing the high cost of energy for communities and business
WHAT WE SEEK:
a. Additional funding and timely implementation of the commitments in the Powering North Queensland Plan (or similar).
b. Continued State Government action to fast-track the CopperString 2.0 project to ensure it can commence construction in 2021.
c. State Government commitment to integrate the North West Minerals Province into the National Electricity Market.
“The North West Minerals Province is where we have half a trillion dollars in the new economy minerals needed for batteries and renewables. The potential wider economic benefits from unlocked private investment are modelled at over 3,500 jobs in North Queensland and a $79 billion economic uplift over 30 years.*”
HOW THIS WILL HELP THE NORTH WEST AND QUEENSLAND RECOVER:
Communities and businesses in North West Queensland continue to face poor transmission networks, unreliable and expensive power. Increased electricity costs not only impact directly on household and business power bills, but also makes water treatment, pumping and reticulation more expensive for end users. Likewise, the region’s poor transmission network is hindering the potential to develop cleaner energy, industries and markets.
Under the Powering North Queensland Plan, the State Government committed to invest $386 million to strengthen and diversify North Queensland’s energy supply, drive economic growth and support 5,000 jobs.
In short, we want more of this given such investment has the potential to generate long term economic growth, create sustainable jobs and develop clean energy technologies.
Likewise, extending the national electricity grid from Townsville to Mount Isa under the CopperString 2.0 project will result in lower energy costs and generate thousands of jobs for North West Queensland through development of the region’s valuable minerals sector as well as unlock massive renewable energy resources across the region.
Also, access to the National Electricity Market puts the North West on an equal footing with other major mining and ‘load’ regions encouraging the processing and manufacturing sectors - the real value-adders that Queensland and Australia need in the medium and long term.
* Queensland Premier and Minister for Trade, The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Media Statement “CopperString to power jobs and wealth creation for NQ”, Tuesday 19 May 2020.