Wednesday 2 September - for immediate release
Yesterday, the Crisafulli Government announced it was taking a step backwards for Queenslanders. In signing Queenslanders up for 630 more diesel buses, the QLD Government has signed Queenslanders up for more exposure to expensive global oil price spikes and more climate pollution.
Australia imports more than 90% of our refined fuel. With the Queensland Government committing to expensive, noisy and polluting public transport, Queensland residents will stay exposed to global fossil fuel crises.
A better solution is for the Crisafulli Government to diversify away from petrol and diesel, by expanding renewable energy and electrification, rather than putting all their eggs in the oil and gas basket – at great cost to Queensland residents.
The Climate Media Centre has experts and case studies available for interviews.
To arrange interviews, please contact:
Gabrielle Platt on 0493 442 307 or [email protected]
Case studies and experts available for interview
Aman Gaur, Head of Legal, Policy and Advocacy at the Electric Vehicle Council
Ben McLeod, Queensland-based Senior Advisor at the Climate Council
Nathan Gore-Brown, Director of the QLD Branch, Australian Electric Vehicle Association said:
“The Australian Electric Vehicle Association is disappointed to hear that the Queensland government has turned its back on the future of clean, cheaper, electric public transport, despite its previous support of the Brisbane Metro electric buses.
“Minister Mickelberg's statement, which highlighted that the prior government's plans for transitioning to electric buses would result in expensive paperweights blocking local streets, is ill-informed. This is not a risk his interstate counterparts seem worried about.
“Instead, Queensland will be stuck with 630 polluting diesel buses operating on the South East network until 2048 (due to the 20 year life of a bus in the Translink network). This also exposes the state's transport network to future fuel supply disruptions and price fluctuations, an issue that remains prevalent in 2026.
“As the state prepares for one of its most symbolic moments in recent times - the 2032 Brisbane Olympics – this feels like a missed opportunity to showcase a progressive, modern Queensland that embraces the benefits that modern EV infrastructure can offer.
“We know that electric buses are cleaner, quieter, nicer to ride in and cheaper to operate than diesel buses, supported by modern telematics systems that help enable more efficient operations. That's why other states and many countries have embraced these modern technologies.
“The Australian Electric Vehicle Association will continue to advocate for electrification as the path to cleaner, cheaper transport and a better return on investment for taxpayers in the longer term.”
Nic Seton, CEO of Parents for Climate, said:
“Queensland is the Sunshine State, but on public transport this government is choosing to go the way of the dinosaurs. Six hundred and thirty new diesel buses is a decision to keep pumping pollution into our kids' lungs for the next 20 years, at exactly the moment every other state is choosing cleaner air for our kids.
“No parent drops their child at the school bus stop hoping for more diesel fumes. Families want their kids breathing clean air, not standing in a cloud of exhaust every morning.”
Bruce Hardy, Executive Director of Energy Futures Foundation said:
“Responsible economic management demands an open tender, where all technologies can bid on equal footing. Not doing so is a betrayal of Queensland taxpayers and ratepayers – who miss out from seeing the best deals the market has to offer.
“At a time when people are hurting from the prices they're paying at petrol stations, and we've been reminded just how reliant we are on diesel imported from the Middle East – we think taxpayers in Queensland should be furious that the government is picking winners without properly comparing bids.
“If the government is so sure about electric bus technology, why wouldn't they let electric bus companies bid for the tender? They simply don't want to have to justify their decision to go with a more expensive diesel option in an open process if electric buses powered by Queensland sunshine come back cheaper and more reliable.”
Anna Campbell, Brisbane based Executive Officer at Queensland Walks said:
“Queensland Walks knows that getting more people on public transport benefits everyone, improves health and reduces congestion.
“Whilst all public transport is a worthwhile investment, purchasing diesel buses is not the direction we would encourage. Diesel buses are noisy and diesel fumes have negative health implications in air and sound quality.
“We’re concerned that purchasing diesel buses impacts the health of Queenslanders and disturbs communities as diesel buses are very noisy to stand or walk near. We promote comfortable, compelling and enticing walking infrastructure and diesel buses are not part of this aspiration for a walkable Queensland.
“We’ve shown with the Brisbane Metro how quiet our buses can be and without the fumes, the community has backed that and will value good investment in electric buses.”
Further comment from experts
Julie Delvecchio, CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council said:
“The Electric Vehicle Council is devastated to see Queensland letting go its national leadership on fully electric buses while other states like NSW are racing ahead.
“The price of diesel has again spiked above $2.50/L in Queensland - why are Queenslanders paying for expensive diesel when we could be running locally-made buses off the Queensland sun?
“Queenslanders deserve to know the full health, pollution, environmental and fuel security costs of sticking with diesel. Queensland communities will be paying for this decision – in asthma treatment, preventable hospitalisations and lung disease – for years to come.
“These diesel vehicles will still be on the road come the 2032 Olympics, spewing out pollution for decades to come, right when the eyes of the world will fall on the Sunshine State.
“We urge the Queensland government to make the tender for these 630 busses open to all fuel types so that they can consider the best solution which is cheaper to run, cleaner electric busses.”
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Contact details:
To arrange interviews, please contact:
Gabrielle Platt on 0493 442 307 or [email protected]
