QUEENSLAND ELECTION 2017

Transcription

1 QUEENSLAND ELECTION 2017 Protecting our Reef and Oceans How do the party policies compare? An independent assessment of the parties policies by the Australian Marine Conservation Society About us The Australian Marine Conservation Society is a Queensland-based national environmental organisation representing a quarter of a million people across Queensland and the country. We are a voice for reefs, people, marine wildlife and our oceans. We are proudly independent, non-partisan and funded by donations from the community. We do not endorse parties or direct people how to vote, but offer independent policy assessments of where the parties stand on the big issues facing our Reef and our oceans. Why have we assessed the policies of the main parties? Queensland is home to more marine species than any other Australian state or territory in Australia. Its coasts and oceans are some of the most important on our blue planet, in particular our glorious World Heritage Great Barrier Reef. But Queensland s oceans are threatened by climate change, pollution and industrial development. Some of our key fisheries still catch vulnerable species and fragile parts of our seas are unprotected. Urgent and immediate action is required to tackle the crisis facing our Great Barrier Reef. Almost half of its shallow water corals have died in the past two years and scientists warn there s a chance of another bleaching event this summer. The single biggest threat is rising ocean temperatures from climate change, driven mainly by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gas. Decisive action is needed to cut carbon pollution by switching to renewable energy. Efforts to improve water quality, protect marine wildlife and coastal habitats and reduce fishing pressure must also be accelerated. The future of our World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef is in the hands of the next Queensland government. How have we assessed the policies of the main parties? AMCS has written to the main parties to let them know what s needed to protect our reefs and oceans in the next term of government. We have independently assessed each party s position and commitments based on their responses, published policies, statements and election announcements.

2 We have rated each party as having promised or not met the following six key commitments: 1. Veto the $1 bn loan to Adani s coal mine 2. Commit to at least 50% renewable energy by 2030 and oppose new coal power stations 3. Stop Adani s coal mine and rule out any new coal mines 4. End deforestation and improve Reef water quality 5. Protect threatened species from drowning in fishing nets and reform fisheries management 6. Tackle plastic pollution of our oceans Where a party had not made a policy commitment (ie there was no available policy or statement on the commitment we were seeking) a not met rating was given. Where a party had supported some of the aspects of the commitment we were seeking, a partial rating has been given. An assessment rating of the parties' policies as of 12pm on 21 November 2017 is provided below. Note: AMCS has assessed the policies of parties that are fielding candidates in at least a quarter of Queensland seats. Katter s Australian Party (KAP) and a number of independents are also fielding candidates to the Queensland election. A list of all candidates by electorate can be found here and the KAP policy platform can be found here.

3 1. Veto the $1 billion loan to Adani s coal mine Veto the Federal government s Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) loan of public money to build a rail line from Adani s Carmichael coal mine to Adani s Abbot Point coal port. Queensland Labor Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that Labor will veto the $1 billion loan from NAIF to Adani if re-elected. Premier s quote:..and if I am re-elected, on the first day of being re-elected, I will send that [veto] letter Watch the press conference here Liberal National Party The Liberal National Party supports the NAIF loan for Adani, provided that it is approved by the NAIF Board. LNP leader Tim Nicholls is quoted as stating, The Premier should honour her word and pass through the Adani loan if the independent NAIF makes such a decision. See media reports here, here and here [at 40:37] The support a veto of the $1 billion loan from NAIF to Adani Policy statement here Pauline Hanson s One Nation Party The One Nation Party leader Steve Dickson publicly opposed the NAIF loan on the Alan Jones Breakfast Show on 21 November, saying Absolutely, 100% to Jones question Would rejecting a taxpayer loan to Adani be a condition of your support to form government? Listen from 56 mins here. The One Nation Party, however, believes the government should fully pay for, own and operate the rail link between the mine and port. This would involve an even greater contribution of taxpayer money than a $1 billion loan to establish the rail line for Adani s Carmichael mine and other mining interest in the Galilee Basin.

4 Policy statement here 2. Commit to at least 50% renewable energy by 2030 and oppose new coal power stations Commit to a renewable energy target of at least 50% by 2030 and rule out building new coal-fired power stations in Queensland. Queensland Labor Queensland Labor has a 50% renewable energy target by 2030 Labor has publicly advocated against building new new coal-fired power stations in Queensland because it is a more expensive option than solar and wind Policy statement here Liberal National Party The Liberal National Party will scrap the 50% by 2030 renewable energy target They will end subsidies for renewable energy They have made a commitment to begin building a new coal-fired power station in North Queensland within 100 days of being elected and here The have a 90% Renewable Energy Target by They support a moratorium on the issuing of licenses for new coal-fired power stations until such time as clean coal technologies in all its stages (capture, transportation, sequestration, storage security) can be demonstrated at an industrial scale, based on sound science and engineering.

5 Pauline Hanson s One Nation Party The One Nation Party does not yet have an official energy policy, however, Queensland One Nation leader Steve Dickson has expressed strong support for two new coal-fired power stations in the state. Media statement here 3. Stop Adani s coal mine and rule out any new coal mines Commit to stopping Adani s Carmichael coal mine by buying back Adani s mining licence and rule out support for any new coal mines. Queensland Labor Queensland Labor supports Adani s Carmichael coal mine During an election press conference, Premier Palaszczuk re-confirmed Labor s support stating,..we support the project, it needs to stack up financially independently, it needs to stand on its own two feet. This is also the position of the Australian Labor Party. Press conference here [at 3:25] Labor s policies in government are here, here, here and here Labor has not ruled out supporting new coal mines Liberal National Party The Liberal National Party supports Adani s Carmichael coal mine, stating that they have been long-time supporters of [the] project Official party positions here and here The LNP has not ruled out supporting new coal mines The strongly oppose Adani s Carmichael coal mine. They are committed to stopping the project and have outlined various options including cancelling Adani s licence to operate in Queensland and legislating to stop the mine.

6 They support a moratorium on the opening of new coal mines and expansion of existing mines until such time as clean coal technologies in all its stages (capture, transportation, sequestration, storage security) can be demonstrated at an industrial scale, based on sound science and engineering. Pauline Hanson s One Nation Party The One Nation Party supports Adani s Carmichael coal mine Ms Hanson has stated, the Adani mine, no problem with it; it ll create jobs and bring wealth to the state Party position here The One Nation Party has not ruled out supporting new coal mines 4. End deforestation and improve Reef water quality Commit to improving Reef water quality by introducing stronger tree clearing laws, cutting agricultural pollution of the Reef s waters and investing more to restore a healthy Reef catchment. Queensland Labor Queensland Labor has committed to strengthen vegetation protection laws to cut back on the high level of clearing that has resulted from the Newman government s weakening of the laws. They have committed to a $500 million Land Restoration Fund to help restore forests, bring back wildlife, reduce muddy run off into the Reef and draw down carbon pollution from the atmosphere. They have committed to implementing all the recommendations of the Great Barrier Reef Water Science Taskforce, including the establishment of Reef regulations. The regulations are to include catchment level pollution load limits to cap and drive down pollution from land use in Reef catchments. The Palaszczuk government has committed $175 million over five years in the Budget, building on the $100 million allocated in 2015, making a total commitment of $245 million over the next five years.

7 Liberal National Party The Liberal National Party has maintained its support for vegetation management laws as they currently stand. These laws have seen a significant increase in the extent of tree clearing, particularly in the Reef catchment. The LNP has not committed to regulations to cut sediment, nutrient or pesticide pollution of the Reef or increased funding. It supports working with farmers to promote the uptake of best management practices, which is part of the solution but will not deliver the water quality reduction targets promised to the World Heritage Committee. The have committed to restore Queensland s protections for native forests and vegetation, including permanently protecting remnant and high conservation value and old growth woodlands and trees They support regulations to establish catchment-specific targets for runoff and minimum standards for agricultural, construction and other activity within Reef catchments. These regulations would ramp up over time. They support a funding boost to help farmers tackle water pollution, funded via plans to make sure mining companies and property developers pay their fair share Pauline Hanson s One Nation Party The One Nation Party has campaigned against Queensland s vegetation protection laws. It has been reported that the Party will scrap Queensland s vegetation laws if it wins the balance of power. One Nation has not released any policies to improve Reef water quality 5. Protect threatened species from drowning in fishing nets and reform fisheries Parties must commit to urgently reforming Queensland fisheries and to protecting threatened marine species such as dolphins, dugongs and turtles by closing key areas to gillnetting.

8 Queensland Labor Queensland Labor has committed to reforming fisheries and protecting marine wildlife Pre-election, they committed $20.9 million over three years to deliver Queensland's Sustainable Fisheries Strategy Queensland Labor has indicated that they will consider introducing assistance measures to reduce impacts on species of conservation interest (dugongs, dolphins and turtles etc.) Official media statement for the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy here Liberal National Party The Liberal National Party has committed to fisheries reform as outlined in the Review of Queensland Fisheries Management but made no funding commitments No additional commitments to protecting threatened species from gillnet deaths Agriculture and Fisheries Policy here Assessment: partial Fully committed to reforming Queensland fisheries through implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy Some commitments to provide additional funding to aspects of fisheries reform Support a Net-Free North and net buy-backs to protect threatened species Pauline Hanson s One Nation Party The One Nation Party has made no specific policy or public commitment to reform Queensland Fisheries nor to fund the reform of Queensland fisheries No additional commitments to protecting threatened species from gillnet deaths

9 6. Tackle plastic pollution of our oceans Parties must commit to a plan to tackle plastic pollution in our oceans and to delivering the ban on single use plastic bags ban and the drinks container refund scheme. Queensland Labor Queensland Labor has committed to establishing a plan to reduce plastic pollution They have committed to banning single use plastic bags They have committed to implementing a Container Refund Scheme Labor will ban the ceremonial mass release of balloons at government and non-government events to prevent dangerous plastic waste entering waterways and marine areas See Queensland Labor State Platform: here Liberal National Party The LNP has indicated they will establish a plan to reduce plastic pollution They have committed to banning single use plastic bags They have committed to implementing a Container Refund Scheme Party policies here and here. The have committed to establishing a plan to reduce plastic pollution They have committed to banning single use plastic bags They have committed to implementing a Container Refund Scheme Party policies: here

10 Pauline Hanson s One Nation Party The One Nation Party has not made any specific policy or public commitments to establishing a plan to reduce plastic pollution They have committed to banning single use plastic bags They have committed to implementing a Container Refund Scheme Link to Queensland Policies: here Assessment: partial