Secret tax slap

THE recent letter from Dr Anthony Lynham, Minister for Natural Resources, Mines & Energy, proves that he just doesn’t understand regional Queensland and the impact spiralling electricity costs are having on households, farmers and business owners.

The minister’s announcement that there is to be a 1.3 per cent reduction in power prices, which based on a “typical bill’ amounts to a saving of $ 4.95 per quarter, is a slap in the face for North Queenslanders.

Savings in southeast Queensland are up to $ 32.77 a quarter based on that same “typical bill” which highlights the disparity between the North and southeast Queensland when it comes to electricity prices.

The underlying reason for the disparity in these figures is that residents in southeast Queensland have competition for retail energy.

Recently the ACCC said that energy providers must make it easier to compare offers from energy providers. That sounds great; except Dr Lynham and his colleagues won’t let us in the North have choice.

It is clearly evident that this Labor Government is using stateowned electricity generators as a secret tax collector.

In one breath the minister admits competition helps Queenslanders save on bills and in the next breath closes that avenue for North Queenslanders; which reaffirms this Government’s contempt for us in the North.