Read the full report (PDF 4.9mb)

New analysis by Reliability Watch shows Australia's ageing coal power stations broke down a staggering 128 times over the summer period, eight times more than the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) was expecting.

On average a staggering 5.1 GW of coal fired power station capacity was offline across NSW, Queensland and Victoria from October to March - the equivalent of powering 1.2 million homes. The analysis found a strong correlation between coal breakdowns and high wholesale prices.

Reliability Watch is a new initiative launched by the Queensland Conservation Council, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, and Environment Victoria to live-track the breakdowns of Australia's ageing coal units. The groups point to the report findings as a key reason Australia needs to urgently build new renewable energy and storage supply to replace our ageing coal fleet.

The Queensland Conservation Council has lodged an objection with the Queensland Land Court (PDF 578k), calling for a recent application for a Bowen Basin coal mine to be refused, due to the proposed project’s environmental impacts, including its contribution to climate change.

The Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project proposes an extension to the existing Lake Vermont coal mine. The proponent is Bowen Basin Coal Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Jellinbah Group.

According to the proponent’s Environmental Impact Assessment, this project could:

• Pollute at a minimum, 35,000,000 tonnes CO2-e Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, and 313,000,000 CO2-e Scope 3 emissions. This is in addition to the estimated 12,400,000 CO2-e which will still be released from the existing mine
• Clear over 100 hectares of endangered Koala and Greater Glider habitat, and over 200 hectares of Ornamental Snake habitat
• Have downstream risks to the Fitzroy Basin and Great Barrier Reef catchments

Queensland’s peak environment body, represented by Ninox Law, alleges that the proposal fails to appropriately deal with the environmental impacts of the project, including greenhouse gas emissions which put Queenslanders at risk by undermining emissions targets, and impacts to water and habitat.

Another explosion at the troubled Callide power station last week shows that the coal fired power stations are ageing, increasingly unreliable and need a clear plan for retirement, according to the Queensland Conservation Council.

David Janetzki unveiled an investigation into keeping Callide B open beyond its technical end of life on Tuesday, despite knowing that an explosion had occurred at sister station Callide C3 on Friday. Callide C3 is likely to be offline until the end of May.

The Queensland Conservation Council is calling for the Crisafulli Government to invest in renewable energy backed by storage and plan for an orderly exit of coal, not attempt to prolong the failing stations.

The Queensland Conservation Council and the Mackay Conservation Group are calling on the Federal and Queensland Government to heed warnings from new methane emissions data from super polluter Glencore’s Hail Creek mine, and reject its proposed expansion. 

The renewed calls come as new data from the UN environment programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory found that methane pollution at the coal mine could be as much as eight times greater than currently reported. 

Methane is 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term, and is responsible for at least one third of global temperature rise to date. 

Glencore is due to submit additional information about their proposed extension of Hail Creek, including greenhouse gas emissions and koala habitat impacts, to the Queensland Government next week, after delaying the request for information several times.

Queensland Conservation Council welcomes Attorney-General Deb Frecklington’s preliminary view that a coal project near Bundaberg is not in the public interest.

The Fox Resources proposal sits on a major fruit bowl, and has copped significant backlash from the local community. The Attorney-General’s statement mirrors the same conclusion Labor made in 2024 by then Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Grace Grace.

Read the full report (PDF 7.5mb)

Queensland's resources industry – primarily coal mining and coal seam gas extraction – is responsible for a staggering one third of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report by the Queensland Conservation Council.

The report exposes how toxic fugitive methane emissions from coal mining are the biggest source of climate pollution within the resources sector. Without a proper plan to tackle it, Queensland communities and our vital ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef and the Channel Country are paying the price.

Addressing fugitive methane emissions through strong climate targets, accurate measurement and on site mitigation is a huge opportunity for both the Federal and State governments to achieve climate action and ensure the state remains competitive in a rapidly decarbonising global economy.

The Queensland Conservation Council slams the Crisafulli Government's decision to send a taxpayer-funded coal, oil and gas "trade mission" to the United States and Canada.

The announcement, made by Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dale Last, just hours ago, sends yet another signal from the Queensland Government that Queensland's clean energy investment is at risk.

Queensland Conservation Council welcomes comments made by Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki on ABC radio this morning, confirming the government's commitment to keeping progressive coal royalties.

Coal royalties must be used to enable Queensland's transition away from fossil fuels. QCC calls on the Government to now release a plan to deliver the 75% emissions reduction target including continuing to build renewable energy as part of broader election commitments.

Unreliable, ageing coal fired power stations around Australia caused supply shortages and rocketing electricity prices at the start of the 2024 summer.

The Australian Energy Market Operator's latest Quarterly Energy Dynamics reports show that between October - December 2024, an average of 30% of Queensland’s coal fleet was unavailable at any given time. That's 2.3 GW of coal capacity unavailable. The fact that these old coal fired power stations can no longer provide reliable power, has meant that prices were the highest ever recorded for the last quarter of the year.

Renewables supplied 33 per cent Queensland’s power between October - December 2024, with coal fired power dipping below 60 per cent of Queensland's energy supply for the first time ever.

Queensland Conservation Council is calling on the State Government to ensure renewable energy supply continues to come online by releasing an energy plan.

As Queenslanders swelter through another day of high temperatures and humidity, another three units at coal fired power stations are offline. These power stations are not able to meet demand. Queensland Conservation Council says that this shows the need for an energy plan to build new renewable energy and storage to replace ageing, unreliable coal fired power stations.