Annastacia Palaszczuk
Queensland has a clearly defined energy plan, which includes renewables like solar and hydrogen – suitable for transport use and export.
In a “state of the state” address, premier Annastacia Palaszczuk outlines how that energy plan works, along with advances in vehicle manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology, particularly in the transport industry.
“Queensland’s position as Australia’s energy powerhouse remains unchallenged,” she says.
Although the state has the country’s “youngest and most efficient” fleet of coal-fired generators plus extensive gas services, it is investing heavily in renewable energy projects to provide 20% of its energy needs by 2019.
“We have $5 billion in committed renewable investment ($1.1b is already constructed and operating), and $20b in the pipeline,” Palaszczuk says.
She recently opened a $200m solar farm and also joined Virgin executives in announcing the blending of biofuel into its fuel stock at Brisbane Airport for domestic flights.
“And in Townsville, my government has provided more than $3m for a feasibility study into a possible $2b lithium-ion battery factory (for electric vehicles).”
Hydrogen is also seen as a potential energy source and export industry, with the state’s second-largest trading partner Japan looking to Queensland for its future energy needs.
Japan aims to demonstrate hydrogen powered vehicles during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Palaszczuk has just released a hydrogen discussion paper for submissions.
Queensland has become Australia’s largest vehicle manufacturer, she says.
“When Holden and Toyota pulled out of Melbourne and Adelaide last year, many people saw that as the end of the automotive industry in Australia,” she says.
But Palaszczuk says while manufacturing jobs have declined in other states, they are growing in Queensland.
She opened Volvo’s $30m national headquarters in Wacol which can produce 67 heavy duty trucks weekly.
The government is also backing Rheinmetall Defence in a $15b project which includes military vehicles.
A deal has also been secured with Boeing to house its largest autonomous systems program outside the US, drones also able to do search and rescue missions after natural disasters.
Drone applications are even taught in Queensland schools as new skills are required for a changing workforce. Palaszczuk says coding and robotics are also important.
Later this year she plans a skills summit with key companies involved in traditional and emerging industries.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology are being catered for as two main areas governments and industry need to focus on. AI is included in The Precinct start-up hub in Fortitude Valley, while blockchain – providing a new type of database – offers further opportunities.
Palaszczuk points to Leanne Kemp’s Everledger company winning an international technology innovation award and her plans to use blockchain tracing to see how minerals such as lithium and cobalt, used in EV batteries, can be recycled and reused.
Blockchain technology is also helping the Port of Brisbane develop a system to improve efficiency and service innovations with a potential $1b value.
Says Palaszczuk, “I can truly say our best days are ahead of us”.
