Within first week of assuming office, Queensland’s Liberal National Party (LNP) Deputy Premier Jarrod Pieter Bleijie has cancelled the previous Labor government’s ambitious multibillion-dollar Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro scheme.
Announcing the decision on social media, Bleijie stated, “Getting down to business. This evening, I signed letters to Queenslanders, confirming the Crisafulli LNP Government has cancelled Labor’s Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro Hoax.
“We’ll now work with locals to right the wrongs of the former Labor government.”
The Labor government first proposed the project in 2022, but it had not undergone detailed financial, engineering, or environmental investigations prior to its announcement.
Experts Warn of Tensions Ahead
Tom Monaghan, communications advisor at the Energy Council of Australia, remarked that the LNP’s approach could provide short-term benefits in affordability and stability, but may also create tensions with Australia’s broader renewable energy and emissions targets.The LNP framed the Pioneer-Burdekin project as an unsustainable financial burden, with Crisafulli calling it a “multi-billion-dollar fantasy” likely to lead to higher energy costs for Queenslanders.
In light of rising costs, the LNP will shift its focus to smaller-scale, more affordable hydro projects across the state.
By pursuing these smaller hydro initiatives, the LNP aims to distribute investment risk and develop scalable, cost-effective energy storage solutions.
Monaghan noted in an analysis article that, “While this approach reduces upfront investment, it yet to be seen if smaller projects will deliver the same capacity. Smaller, distributed projects could also introduce additional grid-balancing complexities.
Reevaluating Renewable Energy Ambitions
Monaghan also emphasised that while the Crisafulli administration supports the national goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, it is sceptical about the practicality of setting specific interim renewable targets at the state level.The LNP has signalled its intention to scale back the ambitious renewable energy objectives established by the Labor government, which aimed for 70 percent renewable energy by 2032.
The party intends to implement a “balanced approach” where renewable energy plays a supportive, rather than dominant, role in the energy landscape.
This strategy will blend fossil fuel generation with selective renewable projects, prioritising grid reliability, and economic stability, especially in rural areas dependent on coal and gas jobs.
The LNP is open to hybrid projects that integrate renewables with traditional energy sources to effectively balance emissions reductions with economic considerations.
“However, energy analysts argue that by deprioritising renewables, the state may miss out on opportunities to invest in cost-competitive renewable technologies that have shown increasing scalability and affordability, and potentially delay progress toward broader national decarbonisation efforts,” Monaghan said.
