Queensland the latest state to accept the need to keep the lights on during transition

The Queensland State Government is leading the way on sensible energy transition by accepting it needs a five year plan that allows business to keep running and the lights to stay on in people’s homes, according to the Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve Thomas.

Yesterday the Queensland Minister for Energy announced that his Government will deliver a five year plan to “ease pressure on our balance sheet, de-risk our energy future, and add significant generation capacity. It will involve the private sector and must work for our communities.”

Dr Thomas said the Western Australian Government’s own plan for the future of energy was significantly out of date and behind schedule and called on the newly appointed Energy Minister to fast track the process.

“The last WA energy Whole of System Plan (WOSP) was released in 2020 and is now significantly out of date,” Dr Thomas said.

“This was acknowledged by a previous Minister for Energy, who originally said that an updated version would be delivered by the end of 2023 but later indicated a date of 30 September 2025.

“There have been enormous changes in the last five years, but what has not changed is the need for the state to produce enough energy to power industry and homes as the first priority.”

Dr Thomas noted that part of the Queensland plan was to extend their fleet of coal fired generators by a few years to ensure supply, with more than $400 million of Government investment into maintenance of government-owned coal stations in 2024-25.

“It has been reported that Queensland will still transition to a low emissions future but will do so in a way that does not endanger supply,” Dr Thomas said.

“Which is exactly how the WA Government should be proceeding and exactly in line with the Liberal energy policy we released ten months ago.

“In that policy we said that we would ‘extend the lifespan of existing coal generators where necessary and where possible until renewable generation supported by gas generation backup and energy storage can meet the needs of the state’.

“Given that the state will run out of power by 2027 on the current Labor plan for energy, it is urgent that the new Minister review the existing policy and take a practical approach to transition in the same way the Queensland Government appears to have done.”