Queensland councils welcome creation of national Net Zero Authority

Published: 5th May 2023

The peak body for Queensland councils has welcomed the Albanese Government’s announcement of a legislated Net Zero Authority to coordinate communities’ transformation to a low carbon economy, enhancing the liveability of every local community in Queensland.  
 
The Net Zero Authority will work with local, state and territory governments, regional bodies, unions, industry, investors, First Nations people and other groups to help key regions, industries, employers and others proactively manage the transformation to a clean energy economy. 
 
Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Chief Executive Officer Alison Smith said the transformation authority was welcome recognition of the need for councils and communities to be properly involved in creating an orderly and positive roadmap to achieving net zero emissions.
 
“The effective management of this change is critical – principally for coal mining regions but also for all local government areas that supply or rely on the economic output of coal mining, as well as heavily coal reliant industrial regions,” Ms Smith said.
 
“Our members recognised the importance of proper coordination of decarbonisation, voting at last year’s Annual Conference for the LGAQ to advocate for a transformation authority.
 
“Queensland councils warned that without a responsible authority with a clear mandate and statutory powers to manage change, local councils would be fighting for their communities’ very existence under the pressure of negative social, economic and environmental impacts resulting from end of mine life and global climate change responses.  
 
“So it is welcome news today to see a legislated authority that will include councils and local communities in the coordination and implementation of transformation actions, with locally led place-based solutions key to enhancing the social and economic sustainability of every local community, with a particular focus on those communities that will be most deeply impacted.
 
“We’d like to thank the ministers involved for the positive hearing we received in Canberra, and we look forward to working with the Federal Government to help ensure this authority delivers the coordinated response local communities need.”

 

For more information, please contact:

Dan Knowles, Media Advisor
Phone: 0432 681 664
Local Government Association of Queensland