Electricity Pricing

2 Dec 2016 10:09 AMMichael Hart

 

 

Queensland Parliament Hansard Green

DATE: 01/12/2016

FILE: 01122016_000025_LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY_GREEN CHAMBER.DOCX

SUBJECT: Electricity Pricing

MEMBER: Mr HART

Electricity Pricing

Mr HART (Burleigh—LNP) (11.03 am): The hypocrisy of the Labor Party knows no bounds. Labor can claim no credit when it comes to stabilising electricity prices. It was the LNP which opposed the carbon tax, saving an average Queensland householder $170 a year. The LNP reduced wasteful expenditure on network infrastructure by $7 billion, which would have increased electricity prices. The LNP closed the Queensland gas supply scheme to drive down electricity prices. The LNP maintained the uniform tariff policy to ensure regional Queenslanders do not pay more than those in South-East Queensland. The LNP maintained over $800 million of subsidies for Queensland energy users. The LNP started the deregulation process in South-East Queensland. The price stabilisation of electricity prices in Queensland is due to the LNP. Labor’s legacy is stark.

Honourable members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Members, I am even having trouble hearing the member for Burleigh.

Mr HART: Labor’s legacy is stark. Labor locked in higher network charges through the 2010 Australian Energy Regulator determination. These locked-in higher network charges and Labor’s carbon tax were responsible for the majority of the electricity price increases from 2010 to 2015. Let me repeat that: the network charges that were locked in by the AER in 2010 and Labor’s carbon tax led to the electricity price increases from 2010 to 2015. Not only did Labor lock in higher network charges, but former treasurer Andrew Fraser argued for a higher rate of return for network businesses. He was arguing for higher electricity prices for all Queenslanders to plug his budget black hole. I table a copy of Andrew Fraser’s letter in which he was trying to sell out Queenslanders.

Tabled paper: Letter, dated 5 February 2009, from the then Treasurer, Hon. Andrew Fraser, to the Hon. Martin Ferguson MP, then Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism, relating to the Australian Energy Regulator.

Honourable members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock. I will start to name members under 253A if you persist. We have two more speakers during this section.

Mr HART: Again, we saw yesterday in the Productivity Commission’s final report that Labor’s policy will increase electricity prices by $1.3 billion for households, businesses and industry. Queensland families will pay $317 million for electricity prices thanks to the Palaszczuk government’s extreme renewable energy policy. This is going to take $10.8 billion in subsidies, and there will be $8 billion shed from the GOCs. That is $19 billion worth of cost to the electricity users in Queensland.

(Time expired)