Sunday Mail Brisbane
Sunday 21/9/2008 Page: 24
STATE Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson admits a propaganda campaign being put together to boost support for clean coal technology is deceptive. The Clean Coal Council has developed a communications strategy to target key groups, starting with secondary school children, with the message that clean coal technologies are vital to the state's long-term economic stability and climate change response.
The council is made up of government and industry representatives and chaired by Premier Anna Bligh. A confidential government document, obtained by The Sunday Mail, says renewable energies such as wind, wave, geothermal and solar are also being explored but claims they are efficient only in "certain niche markets" and are still in the "development stages".
Simon Roz, a climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace, says that is untrue. Renewables were an important and proven source of power in many countries, he said. "The Queensland Government is spending taxpayer money to fund a campaign to deceive the next generation of voters," he said. The Sunday Mail in July revealed that the Government received a CSIRO report last year that said renewable sources could provide all of the state's electricity needs.
Mr Wilson said the communications strategy was "only a draft at this stage" and "there are differing opinions about some of the content". "For instance, f don't agree with the description of renewable energy," he said. "To me, renewable energy is absolutely vital in tackling climate change. I've got to say I agree with Greenpeace on that score." The Government has committed $300 million for clean coal technology. The secret document says clean coal technology is seen as being in competition with renewables.
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