ENERGY Networks Australia has welcomed support from the COAG Energy Council for a national hydrogen strategy and a streamlined process to deliver a more connected electricity grid.

CEO Andrew Dillon said the COAG Energy Council direction to progress the Group 1 projects in the Australian Energy Market Operator’s Integrated System Plan was an important step towards delivering better flows of power across the National Electricity Market (NEM).

“Around the world, the logical response to growing levels of variable renewable generation is to have a more connected electricity system,” Mr Dillon said

“A more connected grid that links states will provide significant benefits to customers – better reliability and increased competition in the wholesale energy market.

“The overall savings to the electricity system from timely transmission investment have been estimated by AEMO to be about $1.2 billion – savings for customers off future power bills.”

Mr Dillon also welcomed the South Australia and New South Wales Memorandum of Understanding to progress a new electricity interconnector between the two states.

“This project will lower electricity prices in both states and improve security of power supply right across the NEM,” he said.

Another important decision of the COAG EC was the agreement to develop a national hydrogen strategy to progress options to decarbonise Australia’s gas networks and the development of a hydrogen export industry.

“Hydrogen is a fuel of the future and Australia is perfectly placed to benefit from its use to help decarbonise our gas sector,” he said.

About Enery Networks Australia

Energy Networks Australia represents Australia’s electricity transmission and distribution networks and gas distribution networks. Members provide energy to virtually every household and business in Australia.

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THE RECORD returns from the resources industry to the Queensland Budget show the importance of continued exploration and investment in new projects to keep the budget in the black, the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) said today.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane today welcomed Treasurer Jackie Trad's budget update, showing record returns from coal royalty taxes.

“Queensland’s black coal is putting the Queensland budget in the black,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Resources investment keeps Queensland’s economy firing on all cylinders and keeps the budget out of the red.

“Without resources royalty taxes, in particular from black coal, the budget surplus of $524 million would be a budget deficit of $4.6 billion.” (*see graph below)

Returns from coal royalty taxes are now at a new record of $4.26 billion, up more than $700 million on the $3.52 billion forecast in the budget. For the period to 2020-21, coal royalty taxes have been revised up by $1.8 billion. Overall, Queenslanders will receive a record $5.12 billion in royalty taxes from the entire resources sector in this financial year.

“This is no short-term sugar hit.  Our resources sector has a long-term future that will deliver benefits for Queenslanders now and for decades into the future," Mr Macfarlane said.

“The world needs our met coal, which builds modern cities, cars, homes and solar panels.

“The world needs our cleaner thermal coal, which burns more efficiently and with a lower ash content than coal from other nations.

“And the world needs our LNG and minerals such as bauxite and zinc.

“This record return from the resources industry equates to the annual salary of more than 71,000 beginning teachers or more than 70,000 first year constables or more than 72,000 registered nurses.

“It can build roads, school and hospitals and invest in regional infrastructure.

“But we can’t take this success for granted.  We must ensure an ongoing pipeline of resources projects, through stable regulation and stable royalty tax rates, and through ongoing exploration and development of new projects and new resource provinces including the North West Minerals Province and the Galilee Basin.

“While we welcome changes to the GST formula that recently went through the Federal Parliament with bipartisan support, the fact remains that Australia’s resources states are doing the heavy lifting.

“Queensland props up our southern neighbours who refuse to develop their resources and who keep their gas locked in the ground. The free ride can’t last forever.

“Queensland is a resources superpower.  We are proud of the role our resources sector plays in creating a stronger, more prosperous Queensland.

“Our sector employs more than 316,000 people, it creates 1 in every $5 for the state and it benefits 14,200 local businesses.

“Other states lock up their resources sectors to their own extreme disadvantage. Queensland will continue to show the way to develop a sustainable resources industry that delivers returns to landholders, to our towns and cities, and works hand-in-hand with other sectors such as agriculture and tourism.”

www.qrc.org.au

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed a series of upgrades to an app, developed and operated by the GasFields Commission, but will remain vigilant to ensure there is action on possible future improvements to further strengthen the co-existence between the agriculture and gas industries.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the app was a guidance for landholders when negotiating an agreement with a gas company.

“The development of the Queensland gas industry over the last 15 years has benefited from the partnership with agriculture industries and individual primary producers. Indeed, as the GasFields Commission itself has reported, more than $380 million has been paid to primary producers through agreements with gas companies,” he said.

According to the GasFields Commission Queensland Industry Snapshot, at the end of June 2017 there were 5,711 Conduct and Compensation Agreements in place, with $387 million paid to landholders in compensation. These agreements have been negotiated by gas companies with landholders to enable access, infrastructure and the extraction of gas.

Mr Macfarlane said QRC had worked with AgForce and the Queensland Government to secure upgrades to the GasApp due to reported confusion among landholders and project proponents over earlier versions of the app.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the Telecommunication and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Act 2018.

The then Bill was passed by the Parliament on December 6, 2018, and the amendments made by that Bill were referred to the Committee by the Senate.

The Chair, Andrew Hastie MP, and the Deputy Chair, Anthony Byrne MP issued the following joint statement:

"The Committee reached bipartisan agreement in its report on the Assistance and Access Bill. This review will focus on the final Act as passed by the Parliament on December 6, 2018, with specific reference to Government amendments—including those made to effect the Committee’s bipartisan recommendations—made on that date. This further inquiry implements Recommendation 16 of the Committee’s report on the Assistance and Access Bill, for the Committee to complete a review of the new laws by April 3, 2019."

The Committee will accept submissions on any new matters arising with the passage of the Act, and will consider the need for further hearings as the inquiry progresses.

In addition to the current review, the Committee will again be required to review the new laws alongside its review of the data retention regime. That statutory review must be commenced by April 2019 and completed by April 2020.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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