Colin Boyce (Flynn, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

The recent announcement regarding the possible early closure of the Gladstone Power Station has sent shock waves through the Gladstone community. Rio Tinto gave notice that they could close the power station early—in fact, six years early—and, in line with the AEMO requirements, they are required to flag this potential closure. And make no mistake—this is a direct result of the federal government's target to pursue 100 per cent renewable energy at all costs, and this needs to be addressed. The early closure of the Gladstone Power Station will be devastating to industry. It supplies approximately 80 per cent of its power production to the alumina sector, the Port of Gladstone and heavy industrial industry.

You cannot run the fourth-largest coal terminal in the world and two refineries and an alumina smelter on wind turbines and solar panels. It's simply not feasible. While Minister Bowen uses his 'Chrisinformation' to attempt to persuade Australians that the footprint of renewables is minor, in the Flynn electorate we know differently. There are over 90 projects planned in my electorate, and this means 3,000 wind turbines and millions of solar panels covering our agricultural food production land. Our industries can't run on targets. They need reliable power every day. Risking our energy security risks Australia's prosperity, and in turn this will cost jobs in Gladstone and in Central Queensland.

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