By Jim O’Toole
The stunning hypocrisy of the Electrical Trades Union and Gladstone mayor Matt Burnett over the impending closure of the Gladstone Power Station, has left the Premier almost speechless.
Queensland’s Premier, David Crisafulli, told reporters on Wednesday he had “not seen the reports” of the closure, but was “optimistic about the future of mining and manufacturing in this state, which is why we need an energy plan that is affordable, reliable and sustainable”
Once a treasured state government asset Gladstone power station since 1976 provided affordable power to much of Queensland utilizing free Central Queensland coal. The power station was bought by mining giant Rio Tinto in 1994 when it became obvious its nearby bauxite refinery could no longer afford long term, Labor’s exorbitant electricity charges.
Mayor Matt Burnett and the ETU have criticized Rio for the early closure but both are joined at the hip with Labor and its green crusade which has started to cripple industry across the state.
Neither has attacked Labor’s renewables madness which will eventually cost thousands of power station and aligned jobs across the state and de-industrialise Gladstone, never mind the unprecedented wide-scale environmental damage along the eastern seaboard.
Today Rio announced the 50 year old facility would be closed down by 2029, six years earlier than expected.
The Gladstone region has been swamped by inefficient solar power and wind generator construction which the company naively thinks will power its alumina operations.
Rio Tinto has been “going green” in Gladstone over several years, with key milestones including a Statement of Cooperation with the Queensland Government in October 2021 to drive renewable energy investment, signing a significant power purchase agreement (PPA) with European Energy in January 2024 for the Upper Calliope Solar Farm, and another PPA with Edify Energy in March 2025 for a solar and battery storage project.
These initiatives are part of its broader climate goal to halve its global emissions by 2030 by supplying renewable energy to its Boyne Smelter and other Gladstone
The early power station closure could be devastating for local industry and should be fought by the state government, federal MP Colin Boyce said.
“You cannot run the fourth largest coal terminal in the world and the two refineries and alumina smelter on wind turbines and solar panels – it’s just not feasible,” the Nationals representative for the region said.
“The Gladstone Power Station could continue its role for the next 10 years.”
