Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Treasurer Cameron Dick have this week reaffirmed the Queensland Government’s support for the CopperString project to deliver greater electricity security, reliability, and affordability to the State’s North.

The CopperString power network will remove the barrier to economic development for North and North West Queensland being currently isolated from the national transmission grid.

At Queensland Budget Estimates this week, Member for Traeger Robbie Katter asked the Premier and Treasurer the status of the Queensland Government’s delivery on its 2020 election commitment for an implementation plan for the 1000km electricity transmission network connecting the North West Minerals Province with the national electricity grid near Townsville.

“During Estimates, I asked the Premier and the Treasurer about their progress on delivering CopperString and its negotiations with the new Albanese Government that has already identified the need for more than 10,000 kilometres of additional transmission infrastructure,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter said the Palaszczuk and Albanese Governments’ shared commitments to renewable energy and critical minerals could only be delivered through CopperString connection to the national electricity grid.

“With the Palaszczuk Government to deliver the Queensland Energy Plan by October and the Albanese Government to hand down its Budget in October, it’s time to deliver CopperString and make good on their promises to increase minerals and energy production in North Queensland,” he said.

“I welcome the Premier and Treasurer reaffirming the Government’s commitment and urge them to secure the Albanese Government’s support.

“In May, the Palaszczuk Government criticised then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison for not funding CopperString in his last Budget, so logically they should insist Albanese funds it in his first.”

At Budget Estimates yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said:

“We want to see the North West Minerals Province developed and our critical mineral resources unlocked because it will deliver thousands of new jobs across North Queensland from Mount Isa through to Townsville. We have the critical minerals—copper, cobalt, vanadium and zinc—the world needs to build renewable energy to reach net zero and demand for critical minerals will increase by six times. That is why we will be supporting the (CopperString) project with development funding and we are building a critical minerals demonstration plant in Townsville… In relation to CopperString, we are still in final negotiations with the federal government and we will definitely be updating you (Mr Katter).”

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said:

“We are currently evaluating stakeholder feedback on electricity supply options for the North West Minerals Province as part of the consultation and regulatory impact statement process. The Coordinator-General is currently assessing the project’s environmental impact statement…. In summary, we remain committed to the (CopperString) project.”

20220727 – RK media release – Premier, Treasurer prioritise CopperString for QLD’s future