In an address to the Queensland Media Club, Forrest said Australia was at a pivotal moment in history and the Federal Government was standing in the way of both the market and climate change science.

He also said the threat Russia posed to the world meant Australia had to become energy independent and it could only do that sustainably through renewable hydrogen.

He said he would make an announcement on Sunday, in Gladstone, that would accelerate Australia towards energy independence.

That was likely to relate to his already announced hydrogen catalyser plant where he was turning the first sod this weekend.

He also said he had high confidence that Incitec’s Gibson Island ammonia plant could be transformed as a hydrogen business.
“The economics are finally on our side,” he said.

But he said the Federal Government and Angus Taylor were standing in the way of progress through their support of the coal industry.

“Taylor (has) strong rear vision glasses … studiously supporting fossil fuels. He is standing in the road of both the market and the concluded science of climate change.

“This rear vision loyalty is standing in the road of Australia’s real and proper destiny, a destiny of becoming a pollution-free nation exporting pollution-free products on a scale that would dwarf the iron ore industry.

“I don’t play politics but I will call out policy that is not supported by science.”

He said the Government was supporting failed technology in carbon capture and storage, or clean coal and this was where Angus Taylor felt he was God.

“What’s the difference between Angus Taylor and God? The answer is God doesn’t think he is Angus Taylor.”

Forrest said the events in Russia showed Australia must become fully energy independent.

“The Federal Government says we can ride this one out with adequate supplies of oil and gas.

“Maybe we will this time but what if we don’t?

“Are you willing to gamble your future and your childrens’ future on the whims of Putin.

“We cannot and we must not keep relying on foreign fuel imports to keep our country running.

“We must create our own energy from our own land from the wind and the sun and build new ecosystems that is fed purely by 100 per cent renewables.

“Green hydrogen and green ammonia can fully replace every form of fossil fuel and employment demand will be greater than what we have now.”

He said he had also looked over the possibility of buying AGL and regarded the proposal by Brookfield and Mike Cannon-Brookes as a “really clever acquisition”.