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PO Box 7396 Hervey Bay QLD 4655

Secretary’s mobile: 0428 624 366 Secretary’s email: vanessa.egavins@gmail.com

31 July 2016

Department of Environment and Heritage Protection climatechange@ehp.qld.gov.au cc Bruce Saunders, MP

Ted Sorensen, MP ADVANCING CLIMATE ACTION IN QUEENSLAND: MAKING THE TRANSITION TO A LOW CARBON FUTURE Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Queensland Government’s excellent discussion paper, Advancing Climate Action in Queensland: Making the transition to a low carbon future. We congratulate the Queensland Government for taking this initiative on such an important topic. The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Fraser Coast Branch Inc (Wildlife Fraser Coast) has the following objectives:

(1) to preserve the fauna and flora of Australia by all lawful means; (2) to educate by all means possible all sections of the community,

particularly the young, in understanding the principles of conservation and preservation of the natural environment;

(3) to discourage by all legal means possible the destruction, exploitation or unnecessary development of any part of the natural environment;

(4) to encourage rational land use and proper planning of development and use of the natural environment and management thereof.

We have a current membership of over 60 people and, through our activities, a much wider reach into the community. Building on the existing initiatives taken by the Queensland Government that are flagged in your discussion paper will be critical to secure Queensland’s future and give us a competitive edge in a new, low carbon world economy.

Measures taken will also be of considerable assistance to our organisation in helping us achieve our own objectives. The directions proposed in your discussion paper are all basic common sense for a more sustainable future in an increasingly over-populated world, regardless of whether people ‘believe’ that climate change is happening or that it is anthropogenic. Wildlife Fraser Coast is deeply concerned about the level of misinformation and deliberate disinformation out there among some of our politicians and our community, and the strength of efforts by vested interests to undermine climate science and vilify climate scientists. Unfortunately, the media is a major disseminator of misinformation. Your process of consultation on this important issue could well be swamped by submissions from climate change ‘deniers’ who see no need to change the status quo. We see this as an issue requiring considered scientific analysis by experts, rather than a matter for ‘populism’. Myths about climate change abound and it is becoming increasingly difficult for the ordinary ‘informed’ person to separate fact from fiction. The fictions perpetrated are based on use of fake experts (including magnified minorities), logical fallacies (such as use of red herrings, false dichotomies and misrepresentation, and jumping to conclusions), reference to or reliance on impossible expectations, cherry-picking of data and conspiracy theories. The University of Queensland is a global leader in research and public education to address these challenges. In order to manage the likely backlash from poorly informed people and vested interests, it may be prudent to recast the whole issue as simply the need for ‘innovation and planning for a more sustainable future’, rather than tying it specifically to climate change. As a state, Queensland is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. In our view, failure to take strong action along the lines proposed in the discussion paper risks condemning Queensland and Queenslanders to third world status as our major export markets themselves shift away from a fossil fuel based economy. Our responses to the questions in the discussion paper are attached. Yours sincerely Sara Gerdsen Vanessa Elwell-Gavins President Secretary

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ATTACHMENT: RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS IN THE DISCUSSION PAPER 1. What should Queensland look like in 5, 10 or 30 years in a low carbon

global economy? 30-year timeframe:

• Queensland economy largely de-carbonised and no longer dependent on resource extraction and consumption

• Significant public transport networks fuelled by renewable energy • Fewer vehicles on roads • Bicycles a common mode of private transport, with every city and town

containing a network of bicycle paths • All energy production based on renewable low or no-carbon based energy

such as solar or wind power, or low carbon-emitting biofuels generated from crop waste products or grown on land that was already cleared

• Local food production • Freight transport between major centres all based on electrified railways • Current petrol stations replaced by renewable energy refueling centres • Mandatory design for all private and commercial buildings suited for the

sub-tropics, featuring solar passive orientation and eaves, energy efficiency, opening windows and low reliance on air-conditioning

• Return of vegetation (preferably local to each area) to town centres and suburbs

• Coal mines are no longer operating in Queensland and coal mine sites have all been rehabilitated.

• New industries are based on renewable energy and innovation • Innovation, skills, knowledge and services drive the economy • Manufacturing has been decentralised • Carbon farming is a normal and profitable rural land use across all parts

of Queensland • Food and fibre production is tailored to Queensland conditions and low

inputs of water and fertiliser. • There is more green space in urban areas, based on local plants, leading to

increased public use of these areas • Stringent habitat protection measures implemented in 2016-17 have

resulted in no more native species listed as endangered or vulnerable, and a thriving koala population exists throughout its natural range

• No development or infrastructure will be located in areas at risk from extreme weather events, particularly floods and cyclones, or storm surges or sea level rise. (The coastline will already be a little altered because of sea level rise, and low lying islands and coral cays will be more at risk of inundation during storm surges than they are in 2016.)

• The NBN and new communication technologies will reduce the need for workers to be co-located, thereby reducing urban congestion.

10-year timeframe:

• Effective wildlife corridors have been put in place to enhance the ability of our native species to migrate and therefore to adapt to climate change.

• Native vegetation is seen as a net benefit by all members of the community, particularly farmers, who now understand that retaining native vegetation enhances farm productivity.

• Public transport systems will be in place that use renewable energy sources.

• All housing and commercial buildings will have solar panels installed and functioning

• Street lights will be LED or solar-powered • All houses and commercial buildings will have rainwater tanks • Insurance companies are no longer insuring new property and

infrastructure that is likely to be impacted by climate change or sea level rise

• The Queensland population is well informed about the risks and causes of climate change and supports urgent action to mitigate risks and transform our economy to a low carbon economy

5-year timeframe:

• State planning legislation and local government planning schemes all recognise the threats from climate change and put in place appropriate measures to mitigate them.

• Vegetation clearing has ceased in Queensland. Action has commenced that will reduce fragmentation of native vegetation in the landscape and aggregate and link small patches.

• New wildlife corridors have been designed and planting is well under way.

• There are strong moves towards developing and implementing renewable energy sources, particularly solar power.

• There is community and political recognition that biofuel production is only sustainable and acceptable on existing agricultural land. Native vegetation cannot be cleared for biofuel production or for solar or wind farms, or for dams.

• There is significant Queensland investment in research and industry development to meet the challenges of delivering a de-carbonised economy.

• 1 million suitable private and commercial buildings will have solar panels installed that meet or exceed their power consumption needs and feed back to the grid

• Intensive and targeted community education and education of politicians, policy makers and planners is driving a change in community perception about the reality of climate change and increased acceptance both of its reality and the critical need for action and innovation to adopt a no or low carbon economy and manage the impacts of climate change.

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• Strong price signals are in place, such as a consumption tax on fossil fuels, that will encourage business, industry and consumers to take steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

2. What do you think are the benefits and costs of taking action to

address climate change in Queensland? The benefits of taking action vastly outweigh the benefits of not taking action. The costs of not taking action vastly exceed the costs of taking action. If Queensland acts now, Queenslanders will all benefit from the investment in change and adoption of a well-considered, comprehensive climate action plan. The benefits of taking action include:

• Queensland will be a leader within Australia, rather than the biggest net carbon emitter.

• Queensland industries will gain a market edge in the global economy by taking action now.

• Queensland will have a plan for both greenhouse gas emission reduction and for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

• The cost of transition to a low carbon economy will be far lower if implemented now, than if we wait.

• New jobs will be generated in new industries • The Queensland population, housing and infrastructure will be at far less

risk from extreme weather events because planning and development will be based on a proper assessment of risks from climate change and projected sea level rise

• The cost of maintaining and improving roads will be reduced because most freight will be transported by rail

• There will be decreased risk to the Great Barrier Reef because there will be less shipping in the Great Barrier Reef and the coal industry will be obsolete. Ideally, if global temperature rises are within the target range, ocean acidification and sea level rise will also be reduced.

• The ambient temperature in urban areas will be reduced because of increased availability of shade

• People will be healthier because there will be fewer toxic fossil fuel based fumes and more people will be using bicycles for transport, or walking, and playing outside

• Because of increased recycling and harvesting of urban water, including storm water, there will be fewer nutrients discharged to rivers and the oceans and reduced need to expand the supply of reticulated water.

• Fewer chemicals will be released to the environment. • There will be less contamination of groundwater. • Queensland agricultural industries will be more resilient to extreme

weather events. • Communities generally, but particularly inland communities that are

already experiencing dangerous heatwaves, will be more livable. • Our unique biodiversity will be much better protected

The costs of taking action include:

• Loss of existing jobs in all parts of the fossil fuel industry • Cost of construction of improved rail infrastructure and refuelling points • Cost of on-going research • Conversion costs, to install new technology for example, existing power

stations will need to be re-tooled • Cost of re-skilling people for the new industries • The costs of community education and public awareness on proposed

action and why changes are necessary and ‘business as usual’ is not acceptable.

3. What part should Queensland play in meeting global and national

climate change commitments? Queensland should equal or ideally plan to exceed international targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction. We have a significant land mass that can contribute to carbon farming and the harvesting of solar and wind energy, a long coastline that can contribute ‘blue carbon’ sinks, and a higher number of sunny days than many other places so that we are well placed to contribute to solar power generation and establishment of carbon sinks. 4. How should Queensland work with the Commonwealth, state and

territory governments and local governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

The Queensland Government should work closely with governments at every level to introduce institutional reforms that result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. It should also plan for and support climate change mitigation measures. It should reinstate the Office of Climate Change, and provide it with adequate funding. It should collaborate with like-minded states and territories, and be prepared to be a leader in this field, as well as a lobbyist with the Commonwealth Government and with any states that are not taking action. We fully support all measures proposed on p6 of the Discussion Paper, under Subnational Action. The current federal government is likely to find it difficult to commit to significant action because of the power of climate change ‘deniers’ within its ranks. This is particularly ironic given that a clean energy future is far more likely to deliver sustainable ‘jobs and growth’ and innovation than continuing ‘business as usual’. Some Councils are already playing a leadership role. However, many, like Fraser Coast Regional Council, are simply in denial that climate change is real and might have an impact on their communities and the way they do business. They assume, incorrectly, that their insurance will continue to pay for the loss of or damage to their infrastructure from extreme weather events affecting housing or infrastructure in areas at risk. If our Council continues to ignore climate change and its risks, we will all find ourselves unable to insure our properties.

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The Queensland Government should set standards for greenhouse gas emission reduction and for climate change adaptation actions. It should review all relevant policies, legislation and regulations to ensure that they do not have a perverse outcome for effective climate change action. It should also ensure that its planning legislation takes comprehensive account of the risks of climate change, and put in place sanctions for Councils that refuse to address the risks adequately in their planning schemes. It should also be prepared to implement those sanctions where there are wilful breaches by Councils of State planning requirements. The Queensland Government could also foster the establishment of task forces representing State and local government, business and the community to ensure that all sectors and regions understand the need for and play their part in both greenhouse gas emission reduction and climate change mitigation. Educational and research leaders in the field, such as the University of Queensland, should be enlisted to assist community education efforts. The Queensland Government should lobby the Commonwealth Government to reverse its decision to scale back and close down climate change research undertaken by the CSIRO. 5. What kind of goals or targets should Queensland set in order to

achieve this? Queensland should set aspirational goals and specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound (SMART) short, medium and long-term targets for electricity generation, energy use and efficiency, the built environment, transport, waste management, land use, and land use change. Targets should be set at a state level, but greater willingness to participate might be achieved if targets could be defined also at the household, business or individual level. 6. What could the Queensland Government do to further stimulate

innovation and commercialisation of low emissions and clean technologies?

The Queensland Government should:

• provide incentives for start-up renewable energy companies • support emissions trading • make Unallocated State Land that is already cleared available at reduced

cost for renewable energy production • subsidise lower Council rates and/or lower stamp duty for energy

efficient houses and commercial buildings • provide cheaper vehicle registration for vehicles that comply with zero or

very low net greenhouse gas emissions • subsidise public transport, particularly in regional Queensland

• remove any subsidies and special deals (for example, cheap energy or cheap water) for coal miners and other fossil fuel production

• remove all support for or special access rights for coal seam gas production. The costs of and risks from coal seam gas production are not acceptable.

• subsidise installation of solar or other renewable energy electric panels on houses and commercial buildings and give reasonable rebates for feeding solar and alternative power back to the grid

• make the first home loan rebate available only on greenhouse neutral housing

• all new government buildings including schools should be greenhouse gas neutral.

• require all Council buildings to be greenhouse gas neutral • progressively shut down all old, energy inefficient buildings and

industries • put a tax on use of all fossil fuels • set emissions targets for all power stations and ensure compliance • contribute funding for research on innovation and/or set up centres for

excellence in relevant research 7. Should Queensland sign the ‘Under 2 MOU’? Yes! Signing is the easy part. Queensland must also commit to delivering. 8. What are the opportunities for Queensland in transitioning to a clean

energy future? There are many opportunities for Queensland in transitioning to a clean energy future:

• New jobs in new industries of the 21st century • New areas of research and teaching in higher education institutions • Encouraging bio-fuel generation from existing sugar cane, macadamia

shells and other agricultural waste products on already cleared land • A high level of sunshine creates unlimited potential for solar power

generation • Methane capture from intensive agriculture and landfill • Huge potential to export clean energy • Marketing opportunities for ‘clean green’ businesses • Huge potential for large-scale carbon farming, which can be combined

with revegetation projects using local plant species, thus re-creating corridors and ecosystems that have been cleared

9. What are the major barriers in adopting clean energy technologies in

Queensland? There are a number of significant barriers to adoption of clean energy technologies in Queensland:

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• Vested interests do not want to change • Political conservatives do not believe that climate change is happening

and that there is a need to change • There are many people who are climate change ‘deniers’ who do not want

to change. Their voice is increasingly dominant.

• There is a lot of misinformation being disseminated and people are increasingly unable to distinguish fact from myth.

• Wilful ignorance. • Councils like Fraser Coast Regional Council are not playing the leadership

role we require of them. Our mayor has stated to our members at a meeting that he does not believe that anthropogenic climate change is occurring. Our Council has not developed strong policies to deal with greenhouse gas emissions reduction or to plan for the likely impact of climate change, and is yet to adopt a sustainability policy that will make a meaningful difference.

• Media bias • Strident ‘shock jocks’ • The need for more research, for example, in clean energy storage

technologies • Up-front costs for companies of investing in new technology • Additional costs for the consumer in retooling or retrofitting existing

buildings or machinery or vehicles These barriers are likely to be no different to the barriers that existed to the uptake of industrialised manufacturing, trains, motor vehicles, telephones and electricity when these were all introduced. And we still did it. 10. What programs would you like to see put in place to encourage

greater uptake of energy efficiency and clean energy? Greater uptake of energy efficiency and clean energy can be encouraged in different ways:

• Incentive programs including: o Subsidies for installation of solar panels and solar hot water

systems o A good rebate scheme for feeding alternative power to the grid

• Market signals such as a consumption tax on fossil fuels • Assistance to electricity suppliers in rural areas across Queensland to

provide power generated by renewable energy • Discounts available for consumers purchasing power generated by

renewable energy • Environmental awards for the most climate friendly schools/houses/

hospitals/towns/businesses • Abolition of any cheap rates for direct or indirect fossil fuel use (such as

power) by business and industry • Community education and public awareness programs

• Climate friendly star ratings for white goods, appliances and vehicles 11. What steps should Queensland take to improve energy efficiency in

the built environment sector? Energy efficiency in the built environment sector can be encouraged by:

• Setting mandatory standards for housing and building design, insulation and landscaping

• Reducing reliance on air conditioning by ensuring all new houses, government offices and schools have opening windows and access to good direct light

• Encouraging and supporting establishment of local corner stores so people don’t feel a need to drive to do their shopping.

12. What are the main challenges to achieving successful, sustainable

communities in Queensland? What types of innovations might address these challenges?

See our response to Question 9. Sustainable communities address social, economic and environmental challenges comprehensively. The major challenges facing development of sustainable communities in Queensland include:

• Lack of community awareness of the need to change • The initial cost of change • The cost of retrofitting • Lack of foresight and holistic thinking by politicians and planners • Competing interests • Cultural challenges, for example, lack of community acceptance of use of

recycled sewage • The high level of decentralisation in Queensland with associated high

level of cost of investing in modern infrastructure • The high level of fly-in/fly-out workers who have little or no social or

environmental investment in either their home communities or their place of work

Some of these challenges could be addressed by:

• Home loans for more sustainable housing at cheaper interest rates • Awards and funding incentives for Councils transitioning most

comprehensively to sustainable community design, planning and service delivery

• Awards and incentives for developers designing developments for sustainability

• Supporting research and the uptake of research findings relevant for sustainable communities

• Requiring all new developments to comply with water sensitive urban design principles

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• Grants for individuals and companies trialling new technologies 13. What would an efficient, affordable, low emission transport system

look like in 10 or 20 years? An efficient, affordable, low emission transport system will have the following components:

• Inter-city freight transport removed from roads • High speed rail services linking major centres • Urban consolidation rather than endless urban sprawl • Urban design (such as location of shops and food outlets) that decreases

the need to drive • Fast, cheap and comfortable public transport systems in all areas • Incentives for car sharing • Comprehensive network of footpaths and bike tracks in all urban areas • Increased vehicle registration fees for large, power guzzling vehicles • Cultural change so that people do not see it as appropriate to drive their

large 4WD vehicles to pick up the kids from school or go to the shops 14. What are the major barriers in shifting to lower carbon transport

options in Queensland? The following barriers to shifting to lower carbon transport options in Queensland will need to be addressed:

• Low population density and decentralised communities across a vast land mass makes it likely to be considered uneconomical to introduce changes.

• Public transport is considered unviable or too slow or too costly for most regional and rural areas. Most people prefer to maintain their freedom to move where they like, when they like, rather than relying on irregular and often inconvenient and uncomfortable public transport.

• Road hauliers will be resistant to having their vehicles removed from roads

• Cost for individuals and businesses of changing or retrofitting new technology will be a major disincentive.

15. What strategies would you like to see put in place to encourage

greater uptake of low emissions transport options? Strategies to encourage uptake of low emissions transport options include:

• Subsidies and incentives for installing, retrofitting or purchasing low emissions technology

• Public education • Plantings of appropriate street trees so that walking is less unpleasant on

a hot day • Bike racks outside all public buildings and in every shopping centre

• Lower registration fees for all vehicles using low emissions technology • Free or heavily subsidised and regular public transport using low

emissions technology in every centre across Queensland, particularly between key areas

• Improved efficiency of low emissions technology vehicles, so they perform better than petrol or diesel driven vehicles

16. What strategies would be effective in encouraging greater patronage

of public transport and fewer private vehicles on the road? People tend to use public transport most when it is convenient, frequent, and cheaper and quicker than using a private vehicle. Services which are indirect, infrequent, uncomfortable, take longer than driving would, and leave passengers still needing to change to another service to complete their trip or having to walk some distance to their final destination will not be well patronised. People also need to feel secure and comfortable, and that their luggage or pets can be conveniently accommodated. Public transport will be well patronised in cities like Brisbane but seem to be rarely used in places like Hervey Bay. In regional centres, greater uptake of public transport is likely to require Government subsidy or funding to ensure that the services are regular, reliable and frequent enough to meet consumer demand. Additional measures for consideration include:

• Consolidation of urban areas to create greater concentrations of population

• Installing light rail in all created towns and in tourist destinations, like Fraser Island, where on-going vehicle use causes environmental damage

• Requiring all new developments to have public transport systems • Offering very cheap fares or free public transport in off-peak times

17. What could the Queensland Government do to support greater uptake

of EVs? The Queensland Government should encourage greater uptake of electric vehicles through measures such as:

• implementing a consumption tax on petrol and diesel • offering cheaper registration for low emissions vehicles and EVs, • subsidising or paying for priority parking for EVs in major centres • making sure there are plenty of EV recharging stations and • giving priority to EVs on multi-lane roads that are regularly clogged.

18. How could the Queensland Government maximise the carbon

reduction potential of EVs?

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The Queensland Government should ensure that all electricity powering electric vehicles is generated using renewable energy. Vehicle registration fees should be based on fuel economy and low or no greenhouse gas emissions. 19. What do you think the key waste priorities are in Queensland? The key waste priorities for Queensland are:

• broadening the scope of materials that can be recycled • capturing methane generate from landfill and converting it into usable

energy • using existing waste products to generate alternative energy sources • treatment and reuse of effluent and waste water • ensuring waste water and waste products are not discharged into

waterways or the ocean • eliminating the use of single use plastic bags • introducing a container deposit scheme • fining industries and businesses that produce or sell single use goods (like

mobile phones and computers) that have to be thrown away when their life-span is completed. Sadly, the ‘growth’ paradigm has turned us into a throw-away society where companies seem to gain a marketing edge by producing products that have a short life-span and built-in obsolescence. We understand that in some countries such as Germany and the USA some companies give discounts if consumers bring in their old device when buying a new one.

20. What are the key issues the Queensland Government should address

with respect to land use and land use planning? Land use and land use planning need to be recast. The trend towards smaller urban blocks is beneficial in some ways as it will result in less urban sprawl. However, urban areas with standard houses on tiny blocks and often on tiny roads are unappealing and are likely to generate social problems and become the slums of the future. Sadly, houses are jammed together with no thought given to visual appeal or amenity, and there has been a loss of open space and greenery. This will have negative health impacts, with exercise outside being less appealing and an increased risk of mental health problems. The loss of gardens may well result in loss of carbon sinks and oxygen generation, thereby leading to air quality problems and increased greenhouse gases. Whatever happened to well-designed apartment blocks and town-houses? In general, these are a much better way to create medium and high-density housing than stand-alone dwellings on tiny blocks.

No infrastructure or development should ever be approved in areas at risk from extreme weather events or sea level rise. The Queensland Government’s efforts to reintroduce the old Vegetation Management Act are to be applauded. Farmers may need to be given incentives to stop clearing. Stewardship payments (using a formula based on area and quality of vegetation, including the extent to which it might be ‘least concern’ or contain endangered species or ecosystems) could be considered for land managers responsible for managing native vegetation. The Queensland Government should develop a strategy for development and maintenance of carbon sinks, particularly ones that conserve, protect or expand the area under native vegetation. This should complement an environmental protection and rehabilitation strategy. Its components should include:

• Planning legislation and regulations should clearly define minimum requirements for public open spaces, parks and gardens to accompany all new developments.

• No new development or industry should be approved that requires native vegetation, including mangroves, to be cleared, or wetlands to be filled in.

• The State Government should make it illegal for developers to sue Councils if a Council refuses to approve developments that do not comply with environmental requirements in planning schemes. Corrupt decision-making at every level should be penalised and no ‘favours’ should ever be permitted.

• The Queensland Government should buy up more land that contains high value ecosystems and species, for putting into reserves or under covenants. Covenanted land could then be on-sold to private buyers prepared to abide by the terms of the covenant.

• All mine sites should be rehabilitated using native vegetation appropriate for the location. Erosion or contamination off site should never be permitted. A condition of granting approval for the development of any new mines is that the site should be fully rehabilitated, with mining companies that default on their commitments being fined or jailed or otherwise heavily penalised.

• Mining companies should also be required to revegetate new areas as offsets for any carbon emissions and areas contaminated as a result of their activities.

• Carbon farming should be widely introduced as a new agricultural industry, with incentives provided to land managers undertaking carbon farming that restores or expands the area under local native vegetation. The areas where the most carbon can be sequestered, and the most productive carbon storage species should be identified. Perhaps farms that undertake carbon farming on a large scale could receive some form of certification to enable them to gain a premium price for their other products.

• Riparian zones that have been cleared should be revegetated. Our love affair with eating meat is responsible not just for significant greenhouse gas emissions but also for on-going land clearance in marginal areas and

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rangelands. The Queensland Government could sponsor public health campaigns to reduce the consumption of meat. 21. How can we provide some stability in the livelihood of our farmers,

and support the potential for transition to new industries such as carbon farming?

There are many mechanisms that can be used to provide farmers with some stability in their livelihoods.

• The use of structural adjustment programs, farmer education measures and incentives can be used to foster uptake of practices such as carbon farming and retention of existing native vegetation

• Carbon farmer groups can be established. • Research in locally appropriate carbon farming species and methods

should be supported. • Carbon farmers converting a minimum area or percent of their cleared

land to carbon farming could be certified, allowing them to attract a premium price.

• Research into methods to increase productivity from smaller areas or in a changing climate should be supported

22. What role do you think the Commonwealth, State and Territory

Governments should play in securing terrestrial and marine blue carbon storage areas?

Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments need to provide leadership for local government and the community to understand the importance of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes and sea grass beds for carbon storage. As these areas also provide the nurseries underpinning fisheries, and are also vital for the maintenance of coral reefs and for the survival of endangered species such as the dugong, it is critical to ensure these areas are fully protected, maintained or restored. Possible roles for governments include:

• Public education and awareness campaigns. These coastal ecosystems, along with much of our terrestrial native vegetation, are generally regarded by the community at large as ‘rubbish’. These prejudices must be overcome. It should be regarded as ‘un-Australian’ to damage or interfere with native vegetation, including these important coastal ecosystems.

• Setting and implementing tight guidelines in planning legislation and regulations that ensure these coastal ecosystems are protected

• Implementing strong sanctions for Councils that fail to protect these ecosystems adequately in their planning schemes

• Strong sanctions for land holders and others who clear or disturb these ecosystems

• River systems and estuaries that have been cleared of their mangroves should be restored to the extent practical – a mangrove rehabilitation strategy might be desirable to provide guidance on priority areas for restoration.

23. What strategies should Queensland pursue to support industry to

reduce emissions generated in the process of mining and production? The Queensland Government could consider a range of incentives to assist industry reduce their emissions generated in the process of mining and production, through the conversion of existing fossil-fuel derived energy sources to solar or other renewable energy. The cost of power sourced from renewable sources could be significantly reduced, for example. Water used in mining and production operations should be retained on site, cleared of any contamination and converted to wetlands. The Government could make unallocated State land that has been cleared available for revegetation to offset carbon emissions from mining and production