Sparks fly over electricity bills
THE LNP will today launch a poll offensive to convince Queenslanders they are going to be more than $1000 better off each year under fairer electricity pricing and reduced government fees.
Cost of living has been become a top-order issue for the State election with consumers and small business owners feeling intense pressure from rising electricity prices. (See case studies below.)
Labor and the LNP are playing the blame game after a pricing inquiry shows retail electricity prices for Queenslanders increased by 257 per cent since 2004-05.
LNP leader Tim Nicholls told the Bulletin: “We know that local families and small business owners are doing it tough. Annastacia Palaszczuk has been using electricity as a secret tax and it’s no wonder Queenslanders are experiencing record high electricity prices”.
Mr Nicholls will today confirm the LNP in Government would for consumers:
● Reduce electricity by $780 over three years.
● Decrease family car rego $200 over three years.
● Provide free off-peak travel and half-price driver’s licences for seniors, at an annual saving of $720 a year.
● Give free swimming lessons for families with bubs and toddlers.
“This is a key priority for the LNP in our plan to Build a Better Queensland,” Mr Nicholls said.
Labor has documented the former Newman Government’s performance which saw a 45 per cent rise in electricity prices.
The LNP claims wholesale prices have risen 60 per cent
under Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s watch. They also claim that under the Bligh Government – in which Ms Palaszczuk was a minister – there was a 55 per cent increase locked in for network prices from 2010 to 2015.
The Labor Government told state-owned power generator Stanwell to cut profits this year after reaping $378 million in dividends.
The LNP is promising to scrap Labor’s 50 per cent renewable energy target, saving households $220 a week from 2020.
Labor yesterday predicted thousands of regional Queenslanders would soon be paying less on their electricity bill after more than 3300 Ergon customers registered for a new energy rebate of $75 for households and $120 for small businesses.
Energy Minister Mark Bailey said he was pleased with the uptake so far.
Mr Bailey said the Government had stabilised electricity prices, ensuring Queensland enjoyed the lowest household price increase of any mainland state this year after 43 per cent price increases “under Tim Nicholls and Campbell Newman”.
“In 2012 the NewmanNicholls government promised Queenslanders their electricity bills would go down, but instead they increased on average by $436,” Mr Bailey said.
“They hatched a plan to sell off our energy assets which would have meant higher price increases today ... Labor stopped that from happening.”