LNP’s lax ways triggered huge power price surge

I WISH to respond to the commentary from the Burdekin MP Dale Last ( TB, 11/ 7) regarding electricity prices.

Let’s put some facts on the table. In the Newman/ Nicholls term of government they allowed electricity costs to grossly spiral out of control.

This resulted in a whopping 43 per cent increase in power pricing and had an enormous effect on the cost of living for everyone in Queensland.

We all recall the LNP’s plans to sell off assets.

Had this occurred, we would be seeing double- digit price increases that most of the other states are seeing right now. Why is that? Because they sold their assets.

The Member for Burdekin’s proposal is to set up an Energy and Water Council to deal with pricing in the energy sector.

Is Mr Last aware the LNP had three years to act while prices spiralled out of control when they were in government? They waited, however, until the eve of an election to set up a “council” that never met.

Our Labor Government intervened ( to the tune of $ 770 million) to halve the 7 per cent pricing increase as recently set by the Queensland Competition Authority ( QCA). This shows a clear intent by the Palaszczuk Government to reduce the cost of living on everyday consumers.

This intervention slashed the QCA’s original price increase in half, delivering a saving of about $ 51 for households and $ 90 for small businesses. We are already working with industry through the Energy Savers Program. Recent audits of 110 Queensland farming enterprises found that power bill savings of $ 3 million could be achieved.

We are supporting regional business customers by providing $ 10 million to help manage bill impacts through energy efficiency measures. This was announced as part of our response to the recommendations from the Queensland Productivity Commission’s Electricity Pricing Inquiry Final Report.

We are investing $ 1.16 billion on our Powering Queensland Plan. Of this amount, the Townsville region will benefit directly as $ 386 million has been budgeted for our Powering North Queensland Plan. The Palaszczuk Government continues to work to stabilise electricity prices.

AARON HARPER, Member for Thuringowa.