According to the Newcastle Herald, MacDonald said the Greens must realise that renewable energy cannot support the state’s electricity needs especially "if the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing".

While the Green’s goal of replacing all coal mining in the state with renewable energy operations in five years should be considered farfetched, MacDonald said this party would try and leverage their average vote of 9-10% into a much more influential block in the Senate.

Myuna mineworker Steve Callen said he was concerned with public recognition of the coal industry. "It’s important for people to know how important coal is, and what this means for our jobs," he told the newspaper.

While the Queensland election result shocked many, various polls indicate the Baird government will be comfortably re-elected on March 28.