Figures from the Queensland Resources Council show the state produced a record of almost 216 million tonnes last year, reaffirming in a timely way the importance of the industry to the state’s strong economic future – ahead of the January 31 state election.
QRC analysis of port export data for the 2014 calendar year shows that the Port of Gladstone topped the list with exports of 69.6 million tonnes, followed by Dalrymple Bay (67.5Mt), Hay Point (40.8Mt), Abbot Point (22.9Mt) and Brisbane (8Mt).
QRC CEO Michael Roche said yesterday coal exports in 2014 were slightly higher than forecast and indicative of a trend that started with 168Mt in 2012 and 196Mt in 2013.
“What we are seeing are Queensland coal producers replacing the high prices of a few years ago with the volumes necessary to keep their operations viable in a currently depressed market,” Roche said.
“Queensland producers are saying to overseas customers that they are here for the long haul with the reliable supply of a range of high-quality coals.
“Their first goal must be to outperform competitors attracted to the export market by record prices that peaked around 2009-10.
“Hence, their constant and ongoing attention now to higher efficiency and cost reductions, which have been aided on the revenue side to some extent – but not nearly enough – by a lower Australian dollar.”
In 2013-14, Queensland coal producers spent $19 billion state-wide on wages, goods and services and voluntary community contributions, which is calculated to have generated a further $20.8 billion in economic activity and employment for an additional 208,000 Queenslanders.
Roache noted that the coal industry alone was responsible for about 13% of the state’s economic output and 10% of total employment.
It also provided over $1.9 billion of the $2.5 billion in royalties paid to the state government last financial year.
“It is especially important during an election campaign that Queenslanders understand the roles and contribution of the coal industry, from keeping the lights on at home and the economy ticking over to helping developing countries house, clothe and feed their citizens,” Roache said.
“It is a world-class export industry that continues to enjoy the support of both the major parties contesting the 2015 Queensland elections.”
He labelled as “predictable” the Greens’ election manifesto pledging to close down the Queensland coal industry, “with no alternative strategy to replace the lost income and jobs created by the state’s leading export industry”
Queensland Greens lead spokesman Dr Charles Worringham said Queensland Premier Campbell Newman “wants to flog off our public assets to pay big mining companies to dig up the Galilee Basin”.
However, he pointed the finger at both major parties, noting that Labor last week recommitted to supporting coal “and when Labor was in power, we saw a rush of CSG approvals”
Greens’ federal leader Christine Milne, meanwhile, said the world was starting to consider a “fossil fuel-free” existence by 2050.
"In the negotiating texts for the [future] Paris agreement, one of the options is for a fossil-fuel free world by 2050," Milne said.
However, she said it was "still early days" and the text would most likely be opposed by Australia, Saudi Arabia and other countries before the final United Nations talks in December.
"But the fact that you even have in a negotiating text at this point one of the options being a fossil-fuel free world by 2050 shows you the recognition it is getting," she said.
"If you are serious about climate science – serious about addressing global warming – then a rapid transition to a renewable energy-powered world is on."
