Queensland 2024 Environment Scorecard
All parties rated in QCC's 2024 Scorecard were asked the same questions and given the same deadlines to respond. The responses from political parties are below. Unfortunately, it was impractical for us to attempt to rate all minor political parties and independents.
- Labor’s response (PDF 427k)
- Liberal National Party's response (PDF 77k)
- The Greens response (PDF 441k)
- Katter's Australian Party have not responded
- Read the policy-by-policy comparison and full analysis of how we scored each party (PDF 192k)
The below scorecard was updated as of 14 October 2024.
Click on the headings to show and hide the questions we sent to parties, and click on the questions to show and hide their responses.
Total score | B+ | C | A | D |
Taking action on climate change | B+ | C+ | A | D |
Click on the questions to reveal and hide the responses | ||||
1: What is the emission reduction target you will implement for 2035? | Announced and legislated a 75% by 2035 emissions reduction target. | Voted to legislate Queensland’s 75% by 2035 emissions reduction target, but not supporting the state’s Renewable Energy Targets required to meet the emissions goals. | Introduced a bill to Queensland parliament to legislate a 75% emissions reduction target by 2030, reaching net zero by 2035. | Voted against legislating Queensland’s 75% by 2035 emissions reduction target. |
2: Will you apply binding methane abatement plans in line with emissions reduction targets to all existing fossil fuel projects? | Announced and legislated a 75% by 2035 emissions reduction target. | Voted to legislate Queensland’s 75% by 2035 emissions reduction target, but not supporting the state’s Renewable Energy Targets required to meet the emissions goals. | Introduced a bill to Queensland parliament to legislate a 75% emissions reduction target by 2030, reaching net zero by 2035. | Voted against legislating Queensland’s 75% by 2035 emissions reduction target. |
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3: What are your key policies for reducing emissions in the following sectors:
Committed under the Clean Economy Jobs Act 2024, and based on the advice of the Clean Economy Expert Panel, to develop six sector emission reduction plans - for energy, transport, land and agriculture, industry, built environment, and resources. A: Implemented 50 cent public transport fares, and if re-elected, will deliver a new plan to focus on improving frequency, efficiency and connectivity of public transport. Zero Emissions Bus Program aims to reduce bus fleet emissions by 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2035. Every new TransLink funded bus added to the fleet needs to be a zero-emission bus from 2025 in South East Queensland and from 2025–2030 across regional Queensland. Under the Zero Emissions Vehicle Strategy, aiming for 50% of new passenger vehicle sales to be zero emission by 2030, moving to 100% by 2036. Have a target of 100% of eligible Queensland Government fleet passenger vehicles to be zero emission by 2026. Committed $315 million from 2024–25 to 2027–28 towards standalone active transport initiatives, including bikeways, shared paths, and bridges across the state. Invested $2 million to the E-Mobility Rebate Scheme to provide Queensland residents with rebates to reduce the upfront cost of purchasing a new eligible e-bicycle or e-scooter. B: Released Queensland Low Emissions Agriculture Roadmap 2022-23 and committed that targets will be established for both Livestock emissions, cropping and horticulture emissions in the sector decarbonisation plans. Reinstated tree clearing laws. Submitted the Avoided Clearing Carbon Method to the Commonwealth Government for their approval as regulator of the Australian carbon market. Committed $140m for Natural Capital market. C: New residential buildings are now required to have a 7 star rating. Signed up to the Commonwealth Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings. QEJP commits to 100% renewables for all large sites by 2030 in an effort to remove 82% of total government department emissions. Delivered programs such as Climate Smart Energy Savers and Battery Booster. D: Delivered $520 million into the Low Emissions Investment Partnerships (LEIP) program to fast track emissions reductions. E: Released the Queensland New Industry Development Strategy, Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy 2019-2024 and Queensland Battery Industry Strategy and Critical Minerals Strategy. |
Matched State Government commitment to keep public transport fares 50 cents for the next 4 years. |
A: Scrap all public transport fares in Queensland, introducing free public transport on all buses, trains and ferries. Full transport policy is here. B: Re-use of resources policy is contained in this document which sets out a suite of policies to protect Biodiversity and the Environment. C: Provide payments and/or other incentives for farmers for their enforced retention of vegetation and to re-afforest degraded land as carbon sinks. Full Food and Agriculture policy is here. D: The Queensland Greens would ban all new fossil fuel mining projects, including coal, oil and gas, significantly reducing our fugitive emissions over the next decade and beyond. Full Mining policy is here. E: Planning and Development policy is here. |
Increase the ethanol mandate from 4% to 10% by 2025. |
4: What are your policies for helping Queensland communities and nature adapt for the impacts of climate change? | Released the Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy 2017-2030. Invested $20.2 million toward coastal hazard adaptation. Invested $29.3 million in 809 projects via the Community Sustainability Action. |
No commitment has been made. | Develop a long-term, overarching State Climate Crisis Strategy including robust emissions reduction targets and taking into account mitigation and adaptation planning for each sector, transition planning and regulatory reform. | No commitment has been made. |
5: What renewable energy targets are you supporting for 2032 and 35? | Legislated the Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Act in April of this year. The Energy Act locks several key components of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan in law, including:
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Voted against legislating Queensland’s renewable energy targets. Rhetoric is mixed: say they support the trajectory of the targets while Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has also signalled he would be open to keeping coal power stations open for longer than their scheduled retirement dates. | Energy policy calls for a mandatory Queensland Renewable Energy Target of 100% to be met by 2030 for electricity power generation. |
Voted against legislating Queensland’s renewable energy targets. |
6: What is your plan for reaching Queensland’s existing renewable energy targets and closing all state-owned coal-fired power stations? | Delivered the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and its companion document the Queensland SuperGrid Infrastructure Blueprint, which outline the pathway to ending Queensland’s coal dependency by 2035 and converting existing coal generation sites to Clean Energy Hubs. | The LNP does not currently have an energy plan, although they have committed to scrap the Pioneer Burdekin pumped hydro project and instead focus on smaller pumped hydro projects. | The Greens’ plan for 100% renewable energy, via a massive investment in publicly owned renewables, is here. It includes:
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No commitment has been made. |
7: What are your policies for supporting the growth of large-scale renewable energy and storage? | Invested $26 billion to deliver new wind, solar, batteries, pumped hydro, and the transmission infrastructure. |
Committed to carry forward the expenditure in the Queensland Government’s 2024-25 budget, which includes $26 billion for renewable energy, storage and transmission. They have committed to supporting the construction of Copperstring 2.0. Have reduced investor confidence by removing certainty about closure dates for coal-fired power stations. |
Invest $25 billion through Energy Queensland to build 20,000 megawatts of publicly owned wind, solar and energy storage, including utility batteries and pumped hydro, over four years. |
No commitment has been made, although they support the build of the Copperstring 2.0 transmission project. |
8: What are your policies for improving the uptake of Consumer Energy Resources (CER), efficient electric appliances, and household energy efficiency upgrades, including for renters and social housing tenants? |
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Announced a Supercharged Solar for Renters program where landlords will be offered a $3,500 subsidy to install panels on their rental properties, but the funding allocated to this program is unclear. |
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No commitment has been made. |
9: What are your policies for improving the rollout of renewable energy, including by reducing environmental impacts, improving community engagement practices and First Nations benefits? |
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Expressed support for improving renewable energy planning codes, including implementing a renewable energy developers code of conduct. |
Support research into sustainable low-impact renewable, where sustainability includes avoiding competition with food production and does not require land clearing or impacts on biodiversity. |
No commitment has been made, but representative Robbie Katter has called for, “all levels of government to ensure renewables projects were adhering to high levels of environmental and social responsibility and called for an expansion of protections for prime agricultural land across Queensland.” |
10: What are your key policies for supporting new clean manufacturing and minerals processing industries, such as battery manufacturing and green steel production? |
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No commitment has been made. |
2020 policy for publicly owned solar panel, wind turbine and green steel manufacturing plants in Townsville, Rockhampton and Gladstone will soon be superseded by an updated 2024 policy. |
No commitment has been made, but the party has been vocal supporters of the CopperString 2.0 project, which is a transmission line vital for unlocking new renewable-powered manufacturing in North Queensland. |
11: Will you maintain Queensland’s ban on nuclear energy? | Responded yes – have since said they’ll have a plebiscite on the issue. |
Indicated they will maintain Queensand’s nuclear ban because removing it does not have bi-partisan support. |
Yes. | No, the Katters have indicated support for nuclear energy. |
12: Do you have any other policies, not captured above, that support decarbonising Queensland and our energy system? | Committed to leading the state in the transition to renewables and decarbonising Government, including by powering all large sites with 100% renewable energy by 2030 and transitioning all suitable vehicles to electric by 2026. |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
Protecting threatened species | B | C- | A | D |
Click on the questions to reveal and hide the responses | ||||
13: What are your policies to protect Queensland’s threatened species, such as the greater glider and koala? | Announced a new 54,000Ha Greater Glider Forest Park as part of Queensland Sustainable Timber Industry Framework. This new Natural Capital Reserve will ensure key habitat of the Greater Glider and other species including the Koala is protected in broader Southeast Queensland. Allocated $24.6 million over four years commencing in 2022-23 and a commitment of $1 million per annum ongoing to provide for new and scaled-up programs to protect koalas across Southeast Queensland. Committed a further $31.3 million allocated over four years from 2024-25 and $8.4 million per annum ongoing for koala conservation. Delivered the South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy. Introduced regulations to enhance the scope of planning controls and significantly increased the area of koala habitat in SEQ that is subject to protections. | Committed to fund a state-of-the-art wildlife hospital and education hub in the Moreton Bay, Australia’s first Marine Wildlife Hospital at the Sea World Foundation on the Gold Coast, and $2m in funding for a Research and Training Precinct at the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. Committed to invest $117.84 million in on-ground projects focussed on protecting natural assets and supporting natural resource management groups. | The Greens’ federal plan to end the extinction crisis by 2030 is here. The Queensland Greens’ Flying Fox Policy is here and policy for Biodiversity and the Environment is here. | No commitment has been made. |
14: Will you commit to improving Cultural Heritage mapping and protection, in partnership with Traditional Owners? |
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No commitment has been made. |
Yes. |
No commitment has been made. |
15: What are your policies to protect Queensland's state-owned native forests from industrial logging and ensure the growth and efficient use of plantation wood supply? |
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Indicated they will create a landmark Queensland Timber Action Plan that will secure the sustainable timber supply needed to build more homes in Queensland. |
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No commitment has been made. |
16: What is your position on the legality of peaceful protest for climate and environmental causes? | No changes to current approach. |
No commitment has been made. |
Opposed the Summary Offences Amendment Bill in 2019 and have since strongly supported climate protesters. |
No commitment has been made. |
17: Do you support the Koala Protection Strategy, including an expansion of the strategy to cover other koala habitat areas in Queensland? | Supports the Koala Protection Strategy and acknowledges more can be done. |
No commitment has been made. |
Yes. | No commitment has been made. |
18: Will you maintain the Vegetation Management Framework? | Yes. | The LNP has said they are “not changing vegetation management… not going back to the days of the pendulum going to and fro on government changes. It sends uncertainty.” |
Commitment to maintain and improve the current vegetation management framework, including by reforming Category X clearing and strengthening enforcement. |
Katters have indicated that they do not support current Vegetation Management Laws. |
19: What are your policies to reduce land clearing rates? |
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No commitment has been made. |
The Queensland Greens would ban large-scale clearance of native vegetation. |
Katters have indicated they don’t support measures to reduce land clearing. |
20: What are your policies to support the development of high integrity carbon and biodiversity methods for landholders to protect forests and facilitate environmental outcomes? |
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No commitment has been made. |
Committed to continue to support the Private Protected Area Program. |
No commitment has been made. |
21: Will you introduce a well-resourced independent Environment Protection Agency for Queensland? | Yes. Committed to set up an independent Environmental Protection Agency if re-elected. The Agency will be a statutory authority responsible for overseeing and enforcing Queensland’s strong environmental laws and provide advice on their adequacy. |
No commitment has been made. |
Support the establishment of an Environmental Protection Agency. |
Katters have indicated they do not support the establishment of an EPA. |
22: Will you strengthen the existing framework of environmental regulation in Queensland and maintain the comparative funding level for the Department of Environment Science and Innovation? |
The 2024-25 Budget delivers an almost $1.2 billion allocation for the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation – one of the largest funding allocations in the department’s history. |
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Yes. | No commitment has been made. |
23: What are your policies for conserving nature through Regional and Bioregional Planning? |
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Policy position on regional planning does not mention the environment. It says, “An LNP Government will ensure Regional Plans are properly scoped and detailed so every Queenslander can be confident their communities are ready for growth.” |
Yes. | No commitment has been made. |
24: Will you retain the legal avenue for the community to seek review of mining leases and environmental authorities for mining projects? | Committed to ensuring that mining projects maintain social licence by allowing community input to the approvals process. |
No commitment has been made. |
Yes. | No commitment has been made. |
25: What are your policies to improve water quality in the Great Barrier Reef? | Committed close to $290 million to the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program to improve reef water quality. |
Advocated for greater support for industry led best management practice programs which work with landholders to reduce run-off and increase efficiency in production. |
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Katters support the repeal of the existing Reef regulations that help to improve water quality. Although, they also support the establishment of Regen Aqua Wastewater Treatment facilities to remove nitrogen and phosphorus being discharged into the GBR. |
26: Will you commit to implementing water demand management strategies, water sensitive urban design, wastewater recycling, water use efficiency standards and other alternative water supply options? |
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Ruled out building new desalination plants or recycled water schemes in favour of building a new dam in SEQ. |
Yes. Full Water policy is here. |
No commitment has been made. |
27: What is your policy about building new large scale water supply dams? | Did not rule out building new dams, but said expert advice from the Queensland Government’s Water Department suggests there is not sufficient water available from within SouthEast Queensland Water Plans to service a new large dam. |
Committed to building a new dam in SEQ. |
Do not support new large-scale water supply dams. |
Katters support the development of new dams. |
Increasing protected areas | B+ | C | A- | D |
Click on the questions to reveal and hide the responses | ||||
28: Will you commit to doubling Queensland’s protected areas to 17% by 2030? If not, what date do you propose? | Committed to increasing terrestrial protected areas to 17% of Queensland’s land mass, but have not outlined a timeframe. | Committed to ‘increase our protected areas by strategic acquisitions and voluntary partnerships with land owners’, but they have not committed to a target or timeframe. | Yes, but have not allocated funding to achieve this outcome. | No commitment has been made. |
29: What are your policies (including funding) for expanding Queensland’s protected areas? |
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Committed to investigate every avenue to incentivise more landholders to sign up to the private protected land estate, and increase support to current nature refuge holders to enhance management activities. |
Biodiversity and the Environment policy contains the following elements:
○ Identify and protect ecological communities. ○ Protect the habitat of near threatened species. ○ Permanently excluding mining activities in, and from impacting upon, all protected areas and those with high conservation values at state, regional and local levels.
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No commitment has been made. |
30: Will you increase funding required to adequately manage the protected areas estate, including funding for indigenous rangers? |
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Committed to deliver 150 extra rangers in the next four years for the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers. This commitment includes establishing a Specialist Fire Management Ranger Team with 30 dedicated rangers focused on bushfires in national parks. This is a part of an announced $56 million fund to increase rangers across Queensland. |
Yes. Full National Parks policy is here. |
No commitment has been made. |
31: Do you support the nomination of sections of Cape York as a World Heritage Area? | Yes. | No commitment has been made. | Yes. | No commitment has been made. |
32: What other policies do you have to support protecting nature? |
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N/A | N/A |
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