Almost two-thirds of Queenslanders (63%) believe the best source of future jobs will be in renewable energy and want the government to prioritise investment in the sector, according to new polling of 1034 voters in regional, rural and metropolitan Queensland. Only 27% say the best source of future jobs is coal and gas.
The survey of QLD and NSW residents found 6 in 10 Queenslanders believe that the state’s future economic prosperity lies in exporting renewable energy (e.g. renewable hydrogen), minerals such as cobalt and lithium, and manufacturing renewable products. Just a quarter believe prosperity lies in coal and gas (26%).
The survey, commissioned by the Climate Council and conducted by YouGov, also found that:
- 60% of residents agreed that regional areas will benefit most from the global transformation to renewables.
- 60% of those polled also said renewable energy should be the government’s highest investment priority, while only 20% said coal and 15% gas.
- 6 in 10 agree further cuts to carbon emissions will bring economic benefits for businesses (59%) and workers (58%).
- 60% said renewable energy should be the government’s highest investment priority, while only 20% said coal and 15% gas.
Only about 2 in 10 (19%) believe communities and workers that currently rely on fossil fuels are getting enough support to prepare for a future without fossil fuels.
Dr Amanda Cahill from The Next Economy, a not for profit that works with business, local government and the community to manage the transition from fossil fuels to clean new industries, said:
“This poll reaffirms what I’ve been hearing on the ground. Workers, businesses and investors are ready to take advantage of the opportunities in the new economy, but they need the government to back them in with clear targets, regional development funding and planning support”.
Leading economist and Climate Councillor Nicki Hutley said:
“There is a huge opportunity for the historical coal and gas heartlands of Queensland to grasp the economic rewards of the global zero emission transformation, and the people see it.
“Significantly, voters recognise that further cuts to carbon emissions – critical if we are to keep global warming in check – will increase jobs and lift economic growth.”
The following can speak to their areas of expertise:
Jason Sharam, CEO of Mackay based renewables company, Linked Group Services, which is upskilling workers and expects to create an additional 100 jobs to deliver its projects, said:
“We are transitioning employees from existing trades into the newer trades of the future. We are reskilling our electricians to become renewable energy electricians, specialising in solar and now starting to look at hydrogen fuel cells which are all opportunities for us to grow the company. As a small regional company we want to ensure that the money we make stays within our region to support and grow our community.”
Dr Heidi Edmonds, Beyond Zero Emissions Lead on the Gladstone Renewable Energy Industrial Precinct project, Central Queensland, said:
“The transition to a zero-emissions future provides amazing opportunities for regional areas, with abundant renewable resources to power Renewable Energy Industrial Precincts. A Gladstone REIP could attract $8 billion in investment by 2032, generate 11,000 new jobs and $2 billion in annual revenue.”
Luciano Giangiordano, CEO of Enertech PV, a renewable energy company designing and developing large-scale solar farms in Queensland, based on the Sunshine Coast, said:
“We are at a very exciting time in Queensland. It is a fork in the road as far as renewable energy jobs go. What is missing is the Federal government – it needs to incentivise investment to create a real future for Queensland. It needs to provide a framework that can give investors certainty and improve the resilience and robustness of the grid.”
