{"id":68053,"date":"2022-11-25T05:33:11","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T19:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=68053"},"modified":"2022-11-25T05:33:11","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T19:03:11","slug":"macfarlane-palaszczuk-coal-mb2728","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/macfarlane-palaszczuk-coal-mb2728\/","title":{"rendered":"Coal Booster Ian Off Anna’s Xmas List"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ian<\/p>\n

Annastacia Palaszczuk is keeping a list of who’s naughty or nice, and Queensland Resources Council’s Ian Macfarlane can expect a lump of coal in his stocking. He’d be completely fine with that.<\/p>\n

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk needs no introduction, but….<\/p>\n

Who Is Ian Macfarlane?<\/h2>\n

The name may ring a bell. You might remember Mr. Macfarlane from roles including Liberal Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources (2008\/2009 and 2010 – 2013) and Minister for Industry in the Abbott Government.<\/p>\n

Some of Mr. Macfarlane’s time as Minister during the Abbott era was spent white-anting Australia’s Large-Scale Renewable Energy Target<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He retired from parliament in May 2016 and became Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council the same year. Among his other current activities, Mr. Macfarlane is a non-executive director of Woodside Petroleum.<\/p>\n

What Is The Queensland Resources Council?<\/h2>\n

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) is an industry association representing the commercial developers of Queensland\u2019s minerals and energy resources. Those resources of course include coal.<\/p>\n

Why Is Palaszczuk Pissed Off With Macfarlane?<\/h2>\n

The Queensland Premier was to attend a QRC hosted lunch on Wednesday, but a Queensland Resources Council campaign against coal royalty hikes in the state made her a bit cranky. And the QRC isn’t mucking about.<\/p>\n

Premier Palaszczuk reportedly stated<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“I am extremely disappointed in Ian Macfarlane and his attacks on the government ….\u00a0 If [resources] companies are making $40 million to go into a campaign, that money can be very well spent in the lead-up to Christmas helping Queenslanders.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Premier Palaszczuk didn’t attend the lunch, nor did any of her ministers. Late Wednesday afternoon, Queensland Labor commented<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“The Queensland Resources Council is mounting a $40 million campaign against our Premier all because they don’t want billionaire multinationals to pay their fair share BACK to Queenslanders … Our Palaszczuk Labor Government will get every cent owed to the people of our state to build the hospitals, schools, and roads our regional communities need. “<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What’s This About A Coal Royalty Increase?<\/h2>\n

Coal royalty rates in Queensland hadn’t changed in a decade, but back in June this year increases were flagged in the State’s budget.\u00a0 The highest marginal royalty rate was previously 15 per cent, payable on the component of the average price per tonne exceeding A$150. Several more tiers were introduced from July 2022:<\/p>\n