Queensland Parliament Clash as Labor Moves Motion to Support Net Zero

Labor says some LNP members can’t even bring themselves to say the words ‘net zero.’

Queensland Opposition Leader Steven Miles is seen talking to supporters at the Labor election campaign party at the Murrumba Downs Tavern during polling day in Brisbane, Australia on Oct. 26, 2024. AAP Image/Darren England

Queensland Parliament got a bit heated last night over the state’s position on net zero 2050.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles put forward a motion—testing the government—calling for bipartisan support for Queensland to reach zero emissions by 2050.

“That this House expresses its support for net zero emissions by 2050,” the motion simply read.

“I have always been passionate about Queensland’s environment,” the Queensland Labor leader told Parliament. “It is what we are famous for—our beaches, rainforests, animals and, of course, the Great Barrier Reef.

“It is these natural wonders that we have a duty to protect and maintain.”

Miles said the Labor Party had listened to expert advice and accused federal Liberal National Party (LNP) MPs of “tearing their party apart to oppose the net zero target.”

Treasurer Seeks Amendment

In response, Treasurer David Janetzki said the LNP would pursue net zero 2050 via his party’s energy roadmap, and sought an amendment to the motion that reflected that.

The amended motion, successfully voted in with 51 LNP members supporting, said: “That this house supports the Queensland government’s energy roadmap.”

“The energy roadmap outlines exactly how we will achieve this in a way that balances reliability, affordability, and emissions reduction,” Janetzki added.

Thirty Labor MPs voted no, as well as one Green, one independent, and two Katter’s Australian Party members.

The treasurer said the state opposition leader was bringing federal politics into the state debate.

“We committed to net zero by 2050 before the election and we keep our commitments,” Janetzki said (pdf).

“The energy roadmap says it. The energy roadmap shows it. We keep our commitments.”

But Labor ministers accused the LNP of being shy on the term “net zero,” suggesting a level of ideological discomfort.

“Some ministers cannot even bring themselves to say ‘net zero,’” said Shadow Energy Minister Lance McCallum.

Queensland’s energy roadmap includes allowing coal-fired power stations to run for longer, the use of gas as a transitional fuel, support for private investment in renewables, investment in existing energy assets and an overall net zero target minus the constraints of earlier milestones on the way.