New LNP Government must follow through with nature and climate commitments
The Queensland Conservation Council today welcomes the Queensland LNP to Government, and calls on them to follow through with environmental commitments made to voters in the lead up to the election.
Queensland's peak conservation group says that the victory was possible because the LNP agreed to a number of key environmental initiatives, including the 75% by 2035 emissions reduction target, expanding protected areas, and a commitment not to weaken land clearing laws.
Queensland Conservation Council Director Dave Copeman said
David Crisafulli and the LNP understand that Queenslanders want action on climate change and progress on protecting nature, which is why they took important steps like voting for the 75% emission reduction target and pledging not to wind back our vegetation management laws.
Questions about the LNP's environmental judgement has contributed to their being out of government for more than a decade in Queensland. This time around both major parties committed to strong climate targets which is a major step forward for the state.
The Queensland LNP also made the strategic choice of distancing themselves from the Federal Coalition by ruling out nuclear energy - an expensive and risky thought bubble.
The party is obviously determined to turn the page on Campbell Newman's legacy around deforestation, committing to not backsliding on vegetation management laws. In the last LNP administration, Campbell Newman tore up the Vegetation Management Act, leading to skyrocketing deforestation and a doubling of koala deaths.
Queenslanders know we can't afford reopening old political battles on climate and the environment, which is why we’re calling on Premier David Crisafulli to stick to his word on these commitments.
If the LNP is serious about meeting Queensland's emission reduction targets then they need a plan for continuing the rollout of renewable energy and storage to switch off our ageing, expensive and failing coal fired power stations on time.
Polling done just before election day shows 59% of Queenslanders want the new government to stick to the 75% by 2035 emissions target or set a higher one, including 53% of LNP voters.
Extreme weather, driven by climate change in Queensland last summer, caused over $2 billion of damage, and the Bureau of Meteorology is already warning about another hot and scary summer.
This government has to weather at least four summers and if the Queensland LNP backflips on their emission reduction pledge to voters, Queenslanders will suffer.
We look forward to constructively working with the new State Government to bring down emissions, safeguard threatened species, and protect the Queensland environment and the places we love.