Queensland Government Commits to Permanent Coal Super Tax

The Queensland government will continue to collect billions of dollars from coal companies in the years to come by making the massive tax on coal profits permanent. This move comes in response to Queensland’s spiralling debt, which is expected to reach more than $180 billion (US$118 billion) by 2027, up from the current $109.8 billion. The main driver of this debt is $96 billion in infrastructure spending, including new renewable energy projects, public housing, and hospital expansions. On May 23, Deputy Premier and Treasurer Cameron Dick introduced the Progressive Coal Royalties Protection (Keep Them in the Bank) Bill 2024 to bar future governments from changing the divisive royalty hike....