Queensland's new target of 75% emissions reduction by 2035 will drive strong climate action across the state, with conservationists urging the State LNP to commit to a bipartisan approach to the target.

The Queensland Conservation Council welcomes indications that the Queensland Government will support the greater uptake of household battery storage via a new Battery Booster Program. When the program opens it will provide rebates of up to $4,000 for households to install a battery, playing a pivotal role in the roll out of renewables.

“Supporting households to match their bill-slashing solar with batteries is a forward-looking initiative that will increase reliability of our energy system and help many households bring their bills down,” said Stephanie Gray, Campaigner at Queensland Conservation Council. 

“Batteries also play a key role in bringing down wholesale power prices for everyone by providing affordable energy when we might otherwise have to rely on expensive gas generators.

“We’ve seen Queensland’s coal-fired power stations become less and less reliable as they get older. Coal generators also struggle in high heat, meaning as climate change drives hotter temperatures and more frequent heat waves they will be more likely to trip and withdraw very significant amounts of electricity from the system.

“Increasing the uptake of batteries, including household, community and network batteries, increases the resilience of our energy system and will help keep the lights on. Batteries can react with lightning speed to plug gaps in our electricity supply.

“As Queensland gears up to close our ageing coal-fired power stations it’s essential that we invest in all different forms of energy storage, like batteries, pumped hydro and even electric vehicles that can feed electricity back into the grid, so that we have cheap renewable energy available around the clock.

“We’d like to see the Queensland Government make this scheme available to Queenslanders as soon as possible.”

Media contact: Stephanie Gray 0425543006

Queensland Conservation Council and National Parks Association Queensland welcome plans to protect more than 1,500 hectares of land on Curtis Island off the coast of Gladstone after the State Government purchased a cattle station and announced plans to expand the existing national park.

The State Government purchased Spadely Station on the north of the island, and announced a master planning process will be undertaken to map a path toward sustainable ecotourism, park and visitor management.

"This is a win for flatback turtles and migratory birds. This expansion will create more jobs in nature, both rangers and caretakers of the park and in nature based tourism," QCC protected areas campaigner Nicky Moffat said.

The successful passage of the Restoring our Rivers Bill through the Senate heralds a breakthrough in efforts to revive Australia's largest river system to health, leading environment organisations from Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland said today.

With more than 340,000 hectares of bushland cleared each year, Queensland continues to push threatened species to the brink of extinction. Only 21 field visits were carried out in 2022-2023, demonstrating that the Palaszczuk Government is leaving broadscale clearing unchecked. With the majority of clearing taking place in 'unregulated' lands known as Category X, it can now be revealed that there are remnant ecosystems, home to koalas and endangered reptiles within these areas that are not being protected. 

As many parts of regional Queensland transition to more renewables in their energy mix, the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) and Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) will help community stakeholders to work together more effectively towards more effective outcomes for their region.

The Queensland Conservation Council is ratcheting pressure on those who disregard environmental laws through the formation of "Queensland Conservation Council Ltd" (QCC Ltd), a new entity focused on the enforcement of environmental laws in Queensland.  

Queensland Conservation Council Inc (which is an association incorporated under Queensland law) remains the peak conservation group in Queensland, campaigning and coordinating with other conservation groups to protect Queensland’s environment. 

QCC Ltd will operate independently from Queensland Conservation Council Inc. Its primary mission being to undertake proactive actions aimed at enforcing Queensland laws. The first of these actions is planned to launch in the coming months. 

"Queensland Conservation Council is not sitting idly by in the face of the ongoing failure of our state's environmental laws to protect the environment we depend on," warns Emily Kain, Chair of Queensland Conservation Council Inc. "We are deeply concerned about the rampant disregard for the critical regulations that are meant to safeguard our environment."

We don’t have an independent Environmental Protection Agency in Queensland, so we are stepping up to fill the gap. 

QCC Ltd, empowered by our strong sense of duty to protect the environment, is dedicated to battling these injustices head-on. Their mission is to ensure that no lawbreaker escapes accountability, regardless of their influence.

"Together with our devoted allies and environmental champions, we've been at the forefront of the conservation movement since 1969. Now, with the creation of QCC Ltd, we're fortifying our legacy by holding accountable those who violate environmental laws", declares Emily Kain.

The birth of QCC Ltd signifies a new era of uncompromising commitment to preserving Queensland's pristine natural wonders and the continuation of Queensland Conservation Council's time-honored tradition of safeguarding our environment.

For media inquiries and additional information, please contact:

Jenny Brown, Climate Lead

[email protected]

0412 899 059

Queensland's natural environment will benefit if root-and-branch reform of the nation’s federal environment laws remains consistent with the goal of ending extinctions.

Yesterday's targeted consultation on the long-awaited Nature Positive law reform is the first of a number, as the Federal Government works to finalise laws that can deliver on Tanya Plibersek's courageous promise to end extinctions in Australia.

Queensland Conservation Council, the state's peak environment body, welcomed measures including the commitment to nature-positive outcomes in decision-making and a stronger independent Environmental Protection Agency, but flagged the risk of laws being watered down, with proposed community enforcement rights to ensure federal laws not in the draft.

Dave Copeman, Director of Queensland Conservation Council, said:

"These laws are a once in a generation chance to fix our broken nature laws. The Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act is meant to protect biodiversity, but Queensland’s koalas, gliders, white-throated snapping turtles, elegant frogs, yakka skinks and gouldian finches are on the brink of extinction

The results are clear, our current laws are fundamentally failing, and projects that put the animals we love at risk keep getting approved.

"It's early days in this process, with yesterday's consultation just the first of many, but what I saw is root and branch reform of national environmental laws. There are some strong parts of what is proposed, including a strong commitment to achieving nature-positive outcomes in every decision.

"There is a proposal for a strong Environmental Protection Agency, with a CEO empowered to make decisions to protect and restore nature.

"But there are also some weaknesses that need to be addressed. Today's consultations included the proposed approval process, and they don't currently include any opportunity for the community to take actions when laws are not being enforced.

"We need so-called 'third party enforcement' provisions. Federal Government agencies aren't on the ground like community groups are, so local communities need to be able to take action when our species are being harmed.

"There are also strong forces seeking to water down stronger environmental protection.

"Right now, the Federal Government needs to hear from every Queenslander who cares about our koalas, our greater gliders, our regent honeyeaters and gouldian finches, that we want laws that protect the places and the species we love."

The Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) today welcomes news that the Queensland Government will introduce new legislation to Parliament to cement Queensland's new 70% by 2032 and 80% by 2035 Renewable Energy Targets in law.

QCC Director Dave Copeman wrote to David Crisafulli MP, Opposition Leader, on his Party's decision not to support a Path to Treaty in Queensland.