Developing Queensland’s onshore gas industry—the experience so far

The Honourable Andrew Powell is the Queensland Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and member for Glass House.

Mr Powell has been a passionate advocate on environmental matters, both as the opposition spokesman and now as a Minister in the Newman government.

He completed degrees in Science and Arts at the University of Queensland, majoring in Geographical Sciences, Modern History and Russian. He was recruited from University by the Department of Defence, where he received a strong grounding in international relations, human resources and financial management.

After a short stint working in Fiji (cut even shorter by the 2000 coup), he has since worked for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Child Safety, before being elected as the LNP Member for Glass House in the Sunshine Coast hinterland in 2009.

Since becoming Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection in 2012, Mr Powell has overseen the establishment of a new department focused on delivering strong environmental regulation and sustainable economic development. He has successfully pursued a wide range of policy initiatives across his portfolio and demonstrated his ongoing dedication to the protection of Queensland’s natural environment and built heritage for future generations.