Letter to candidates in the 2009 Queensland Election

Dear Candidate,

Climate change is one of the most significant global threats facing humanity and is of major public concern in Australia. Yet we find that substantive action on climate change within the state of Queensland is sadly lacking.

The Queensland election is a significant opportunity to commit to developing and implementing legislative action that will begin to reduce our state's inexcusably large greenhouse gas footprint, contribute to protecting our natural and productive areas of significance such as the Great Barrier Reef, and commit to prioritising the food and energy security of current and future generations of Queenslanders.

At this election we see three key opportunities to commit to action:

1. To ban mining on prime agricultural land, nature refuges and potential wind energy sites

The expansion of the mining industry in Queensland, specifically the coal industry, is occurring at an unprecedented rate. Recently, the legal requirements for the assessment of environmental impacts have been suspended in order to fast-track 11 applications for mining exploration and development. The expansion of mining in Queensland continues to encroach upon the ecological and productive values of landscapes without due process or regard for the economic, environmental and social impacts. To reflect the community’s desire for diverse and productive landscapes, we call for statutory protection to prevent mining or exploration for extractive industries for all lands:

• Designated as Good Quality Agricultural Land under the Queensland State Planning Policy (SPP) 1/92 Development and Conservation of Good Quality Agricultural Land;
• Subject to a conservation agreement or covenant under the Queensland Nature Refuge Program, or similar federal contributing to the National Reserve System; and
• Identified as potential future wind energy sites based on the wind resources maps released by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency.

Due to the climate change consequences of coal extraction and use, the threats to food security, water pollution from the downstream effects of mining and the marginal status of rehabilitated mining sites, applications for mining or other extractive industry can not meet the ‘public benefit’ test mandated under the principles of the State Planning Policies. It is essential, and consistent with the objectives of the Integrated Planning Act 1997, that statutory protection from mining and mining related development be enacted for lands which provide for Queensland’s future environmental, agricultural and energy security.

2. To legislate a moratorium on coal fired power stations in Queensland

Prior to the construction of Kogan Creek Power station, the Beattie government had committed to a renewable energy future for the people of Queensland . Despite compelling evidence that there was sufficient clean energy potential to avoid the construction of Kogan Creek, the power station was approved. It is now evident that since the construction and commencement of operations at Kogan Creek in 2007, Queenslanders' greenhouse gas emissions from coal have risen by 3.6% per cent, and are the highest per capita in the nation.

Queensland currently has huge untapped renewable energy potential which, if given sufficient government support, could meet the future energy demand of the state. Coal fired power stations generate a massive future carbon footprint as these facilities have a lifespan of between 30-50 years. Any additional coal fired power stations would lock future generations of Queenslanders into coal dependency, rather than moving swiftly to a carbon free future.

3. To redirect subsidies from the fossil fuel industry in Queensland into funding for renewable energy and green jobs.

For many years the Queensland government has provided subsidies for industry and consumers that fail to meet appropriate standards for social and environmental benefit required of public money. The relationship between the Queensland government and industry has become enmeshed to the point of prohibiting proper public scrutiny of government investments. This has led to a deterioration of social and environmental outcomes of these investments. The extent and nature of use of public money is not regularly or comprehensively reported to the Queensland public in an accessible format. There is no clear framework for attributing benefit beyond the economic value of subsidies that has been publicly debated and accepted by Queenslanders. To implement the commitment to redirect subsidies from the fossil fuel industry, the government must initially establish a body to audit and publicly report on government funded initiatives on a quarterly basis. Subsidies to the fossil fuel industry may then be redirected into funding for renewable energy and green jobs in Queensland.

We find these actions to be small immediate steps that your party can commit to in this election that are essential for Queenslanders to begin to accept our obligations to act on climate change and ensure a more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable future for all Queenslanders.

We urgently seek your response to these key policy areas clearly indicating whether these policies will be adopted by your party prior to the election.

We will be collaborating throughout the pre-election period to raise the public profile of these issues in both rural and urban electorates. Your party's willingness to adopt these positions will influence the vote on Saturday 21 March of our vast network of members and supporters across Queensland.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Smith, Friends of the Earth
Wendy and Natasha Buttsworth, Kunioon Landholders
Nevin Olm, Coal4Breakfast, Haystack Road Farmers
Paola Cassoni, Bimblebox Nature Refuge
Rob McCreath, Friends of Felton
Steve Shallhorn, Greenpeace Asia Pacific
Marta Hardeman, Nature Refuge Landholders' Association Queensland
Patricia Julien, Mackay Conservation Group
Wendy Flannery, Sisters of Mercy Brisbane Social and Environmental Justice Group
David Lian Sinclair, Australian Student Environment Network
Kristy Walters, Brisbane Southside Climate Action Group
Emma Kate Rose, Brisbane Transition Hub
Mary Tinney, Sisters of Mercy Earth Link
John Seed, Rainforest Information Centre
Phillip Sutton, Greenleap Strategic Institute
Graeme Taylor, BEST Futures