Queensland’s renewable energy ‘whiplash’: how the shift from coal stalled in Australia’s most polluting state
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- LNP repealed legislated renewable energy targets and announced a coal‑friendly plan to keep state‑owned plants running until at least 2046.
- Queensland Renewable Energy Council chief executive Katie‑Anne Mulder described the policy shift as “whiplash” after the October 2024 election.
- Clean Energy Council CEO Jackie Trad said only two projects closed in 2025, totalling 510 MW versus 3,202 MW pledged in 2024, as capital moved to other states.
- Green Energy Markets director Tristan Edis noted planning approvals now “look like a lottery” and highlighted a $1.6 bn maintenance fund for coal plants.
- Jarrod Bleijie, Queensland’s planning minister, began calling‑in renewables projects to verify local backing, halting progress mid‑stream.
Why it matters: Coal plant owners gain a $1.6 bn maintenance fund and a 2046 closure deadline, while renewable developers lose $2.7 bn of planned capacity and jobs; the shift drives capital to other states and delays Queensland’s emissions cuts.
