Labor to slug North Queenslanders with higher power prices

24 Feb 2017 11:04 AMMichael Hart

 

Labor to slug North Queenslanders with higher power prices

Friday, 24 February 2017

 

• North Queensland residents and businesses set to be slugged with higher electricity prices due to Annastacia Palaszczuk’s extreme renewable energy targets

• North Queensland families will pay $317 million more for electricity thanks to Annastacia Palaszczuk’s extreme renewable energy policy

• Annastacia Palaszczuk has once again sold out North Queensland jobs and electricity security in favour of the extreme inner-city Greens

 

North Queensland residents and businesses are set to be slugged with higher electricity prices due to Annastacia Palaszczuk’s extreme renewable energy targets.

 

Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart said Annastacia Palaszczuk’s refusal to take up the federal government’s multi-billion dollar offer to fund a coal-fired power station in North Queensland was staggering.

 

“Queenslanders are no mugs – Annastacia Palaszczuk on the hand, I’m not so sure,” Mr Hart said.

 

“North Queensland is the ideal location for a clean coal power station.

 

“Not only do we have the existing knowhow, but we also have an abundance of some of the best black coal in the world.

 

“This money cannot remain on the table indefinitely. The money is there now, but other states, especially Victoria and NSW with their ample coal reserves, are clamouring for it.

 

“Let’s take up the offer from Canberra and get on with building a clean coal-fired power station in North Queensland as a matter of priority.​

 

Mr Hart said the only way North Queensland can avoid becoming the next South Australia where they can’t even keep the lights on is to have reliable baseload power.

 

“Renewable energy has a place in our future energy market but the mix has to be right between intermittent and baseload power,” he said.

 

“Annastacia Palaszczuk has once again sold out North Queensland jobs and electricity security in favour of the extreme inner-city Greens led by Jackie Trad.

 

“We already know North Queensland families will pay $317 million more for electricity thanks to Annastacia Palaszczuk’s extreme renewable energy policy.

 

“Annastacia Palaszczuk has since announced plans to expand electricity rebates for only a select few Queenslanders.

 

“Essentially, refugees, asylum seekers and those on the dole who hold a Commonwealth Health Care Card will get their electricity bills subsidised, while hard-working Queensland families will pay more.

 

“So much for governing for all Queenslanders.”

 

 

Media Contact: Adam Davies 0417 010 702