Queensland's energy minister has declared that none of the state's eight coal-fired power stations will be closed as part of its 10-year energy transition plan, raising doubts about the government's climate change and energy targets.
Mick de Brenni says later this year he will unveil a plan to generate 50 per cent of the state's electricity from renewable energy sources, and cut carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
However, there are doubts about those targets after he declared that eight existing coal-fired power plants will remain open.
"First, to make this really clear that as part of our our vision for the future, it does not include closing down any of our coal-fired power stations," Mr de Brenni told a CEDA (Committee for Economic Development of Australia ) lunch in Brisbane on Wednesday.
"They will continue to play a significant role in our electricity system going forward.
"We have a great assemblance of skills and resources, and important connections throughout the distribution, the transmission network.
"Those power stations serve as great opportunities for us to modernise the electricity system to invest into those communities, so I think there will be a real vibrance across regional Queensland because of the investment we will make."
The minister said the government would "continue to support" the coal and gas industries, as a regulator and a "market participant".
Queensland produced almost one third of Australia's 315 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2020/21, according to the Clean Energy Regulator (CER).
Almost half the state's emissions came from coal-fired power plants, with other major sources including coal mining and oil and gas extraction.
The CER also listed three Queensland generators - Stanwell Coporation, CS Energy and OzGen Holdings - among Australia's top 10 emitters in 2021/22.
University of Queensland economist Associate Professor Ian MacKenzie said Mr de Brenni's comments were "political" as they weren't based on sound economics or ethics.
"The simplest and most cost-effective way to get to these targets, the most efficient way, is by phasing out coal and investing in new renewable technologies, it's simple as that," he told AAP.
Mr de Brenni said he would also delay the release of the energy plan until the third quarter of 2022 due to the federal election.
"We've seen some other energy plans released by other levels of government that I think we all thought left a little bit to be desired," he said.
"We don't want to do that here in Queensland, as we've taken the time to properly consult and we also thought it was fair for the citizens of this state, and the taxpayers of this state, and those that want to invest in Queensland, they actually see what came forward during the federal election."
Assoc Prof Mackenzie said a further delay was significant because the government had only eight years until 2030.
He said the industry, investors, consumers and the general population all needed certainty about the energy transition and climate change action as soon as possible.
"If the government keeps kicking the can down the road, you're going to end up with a lot of unhappy citizens and a lot of unhappy industry stakeholders because they just don't know what's going on," Assoc Prof Mackenzie said.
"It's not good for anyone."
