Queensland details plan to turn regions into green industrial hubs

Queensland Labor has unveiled a plan to support the development of clean energy manufacturing hubs across the state, to capitalise on the global decarbonisation boom and to help ensure it meets its own target of 70% renewables by 2032.

The Palaszczuk government on Friday launched the Queensland New Industry Development Strategy (QNIDS), starting with the establishment of a state-wide Local Economic Opportunities Network to identify potential for diversification in the regions.

Deputy premier Steven Miles says QNIDS will target building up the manufacturing and supply chain capabilities in six key areas, including renewable energy, critical minerals, batteries, green hydrogen, recycling and biofuels.

To finance the strategy, the government will tap into the $5.84 billion Queensland Jobs Fund as well as the catalyst Regional Economic Futures Fund, with a focus on regional economic growth, in particular those regions directly affected by the transition to a low-emissions economy.

“There is an immediate opportunity to expand our footprint in global markets of high-value supply chains involved in this transition – and we’re seizing it,” Miles said on Friday.

“With this New Industry Development Strategy, we are taking the next steps to strengthen Queensland’s capabilities to manufacture the equipment needed to make the shift to decarbonisation and build whole new industries to support that transition.

“Our regions are uniquely set up to support this shift to new, high-value industries and we will work with industry, universities and our Queensland communities to ensure we take advantage of every opportunity.”

The Queensland policy follows the pre-Budget announcement from federal Labor of a Net Zero Authority with a broadly similar purpose – to ensure a “just transition” for Australia’s regions and other parts of society likely to feel the impact of huge renewables energy and infrastructure development.

Queensland, which remains heavily dependent on coal, will need all the help it can get to move from around 20% renewables, now, to 70% in less than a decade.

“The strategy announced today is vital for Queensland to capitalise on our unique advantages to repower existing industry and establish new manufacturing industries that can create good regional jobs long into the future,” said Stephanie Gray, deputy director of Solar Citizens.

“Places like Townsville and Gladstone are perfectly placed to capitalise on the world’s shift to a clean economy by producing and exporting clean materials and renewable hydrogen.

Solar Citizens also calls on the federal Albanese government to put more funding on the table for Queensland clean industry development.

“In the federal budget we saw the government make a great start, particularly with the $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart program, but to compete with international initiatives like the US Inflation Reduction Act we need to turbo-charge our ambition,” Gray says.