"That's why, during my appearance at the Estimates Committee hearing, I called on the Leader of the Opposition to join me in writing to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Federal Opposition to put our case for Queensland," Beattie said.

"We need to try to get them to mandate 10% nationally when it comes to ethanol.

"I am prepared to write to the Prime Minister. I am prepared to sign a letter with the Leader of the Opposition and I am prepared to sign the same letter to the Federal Leader of the Opposition asking for a mandating of 10%.

"I believe this is absolutely essential. This is about lives and jobs and opportunities for Queenslanders."

The sugar industry feels that it has been hard done by in the upcoming Free Trade Agreement with the US and was looking at ethanol production as a viable alternative industry. However, unless there is a national ethanol mandate on fuel the industry could face an uphill battle.

Last month Beattie launched a 34 point ethanol action plan in response to the Federal Government's refusal to mandate the use of ethanol in its recently released national energy policy.

"The blueprint has short, medium and long-term aims, including a commitment to appoint a high-profile person to headline a campaign to shatter the myths about ethanol and boost public confidence in ethanol as a fuel.

"We will enlist government cars and trucks in the pro-ethanol campaign, with all 12,900 QFleet vehicles sporting pro-ethanol stickers,” said Beattie.

"Queensland produces 12 million litres of ethanol a year, from a national total of about 154 million litres - only a small proportion of which is used in fuel.