Townsville MP puts green interests ahead of clean coal

MAY 29, 2017: LABOR proved once again today that they would rather protect preference deals with the Greens than the needs of business in North Queensland.The benefits of having a coal-fired power station in North Queensland, preferably at the mouth of a coal mine in the Galilee Basin, have been demonstrated in a report commissioned by Townsville Enterprise Limited.A number of Labor MPs denigrated coal and the coal industry in speeches today, yet most disappointing of all was that the Member for Herbert, Cathy O’Toole, would not support any push for a coal fired power station in the region.This is despite the fact that Townsville Enterprise Limited, the economic development body that promotes the economic interests of her electorate, has recommended one.The report was commissioned by the Gillard Labor Government to look at base load power in the north and it found that a major coal-fired power station in the region would put strong downward pressure on electricity prices, with a potential $836 million benefit.Yet the Member for Herbert stated today that 'it beggars belief' that I would support a reliable and cheaper source of energy for the businesses of the north.What ‘beggars belief’ is that the Member for Herbert will not stand up for the businesses in her electorate.