Activism pays off - in the price of your power bill, says QRC chief

THE anti-gas green activist campaign has hobbled development in the southern states and is a significant factor in pushing electricity prices up, Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Ian Macfarlane has claimed.

"Yesterday the federal government made the extraordinary announcement that it would intervene in the free market due to a shortage of gas in the east coast market, which has led to skyrocketing power bills for households and businesses," Mr Macfarlane said.

Mr Macfarlane said it was mind-boggling that foreign- funded green activists had influenced energy policy in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory, leading to gas shortages, blackouts and electricity prices going through the roof.

“New South Wales has excellent gas deposits that haven’t been developed because state politicians have buckled in the face of the relentless anti-gas green activist campaign,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Short-sighted NSW only produces about 5 percent of the gas supply it needs, which means it relies on other states like Queensland for its supply so households and businesses can keep this lights on.

“While NSW is in a state of gas panic, they expect Queensland to keep sending our maroon gas molecules south to keep their lights on at ANZ stadium tonight.

“But NSW is not alone, Victoria has a moratorium on all onshore gas, the South Australian Liberal opposition has pledged a gas ban, and the Northern Territory has a temporary moratorium.”

It is important to remember the gas export hub at Gladstone was approved because there was an expectation that NSW would go ahead and develop its own gas, but due to extreme green activist campaigns, NSW gas has been left in the ground, leaving the east coast in a state of panic over out-of-control prices for electricity and gas, Mr Macfarlane said.

www.qrc.org.au

ends

Contact Us

 

PO Box 2144
MANSFIELD QLD 4122