The second in the Essentials series, 00-02 Energy, publishes an anthology of 26 contributions that explore the varied economic, environmental, queer and First Nations experiences and knowledges connected to ‘energy’ on this continent.

There are two parts to the book. Firstly [Trans*mission] is inspired by a field trip in the Bowen Basin, a region of Central Queensland (CQ) which has come to characterise  Australia’s energy (coal) market. In April 2025, 4 PLATYPUS artists (Marilena Hewitt, Sebastian Henry-Jones, Harrison Witsey and Maeve Parker) rode pushbikes 400km across Baranha, Biri and Giya lands, through regional mining towns, from Moranbah to Abbot Point coal port near Bowen. This methodology of pedal power helped us grasp the spatial organisation and scale of these sites of extreme entropy, and the histories, cultures and ecologies of regional areas and major industrial towns in CQ. This, as well as continued conversation and research into the geopolitical landscape of CQ, formed the foundation of this guide. Unlike the seriousness and categorisation of most ecological guides, this one is visually engaging, poetic, funny, informative and based on physical experiences, relationships and further research.

In the second part, [distribution], the contributions point to potential strategies, new ways of seeing the problems we face, and new ways of coming together around energy justice through art and literature. Here the depth of criticality, poetry, imagination and humour contained within is a testament to the commitment and verve of the small community around PLATYPUS.