Electorate Office Address
1 Paradise Ave,
Miami QLD 4220
Labor’s power price bungle hits family hip-pockets
Sunday, 15 May 2016
· The Palaszczuk Labor Government delayed electricity price deregulation from July 2015 to July 2016
· A Canstar Blue report shows Queensland families miss out on discounts enjoyed by other states
· Labor can’t get their story straight on a state-based carbon tax which will costs Queenslanders more
Labor’s Energy Minister Mark Bailey has failed to keep the cost of living for Queensland families under control as power prices continue to surge and Queenslanders miss out on discounts other states enjoy.
Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart said the true cost to families over Minister Bailey’s decision to delay the LNP’s power price deregulation plan had become clear, with the release of a Canstar Blue report into electricity costs in Queensland.
“When the Palaszczuk Labor Government delayed electricity price deregulation by a year, that was in fact a delay to much-needed discounts for Queensland families,” Mr Hart said.
“Queenslanders are undoubtedly angry seeing Victorians receive up to 35 per cent discounts on their power bills while the only thing Queensland consumers have available is a small discount for paying their bill on time.
“The lack of competition in the Queensland electricity market means we end up paying more than the other states.
“July can’t come soon enough – Queensland families will finally be able to benefit from the LNP’s plan to deregulate power prices.”
Mr Hart said the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s plan for a state-based carbon tax was still on the table, with Ministers making conflicting statements and the Premier channelling former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
“What we saw last week was Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk echoing the now infamous words of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard who said there would be no carbon tax under her government,” he said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s promise was just as genuine as Julia Gillard’s and Queenslanders will ultimately pay through their power bills.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s flawed electricity merger, its deregulation delay and this latest plan to impose a carbon tax are just going to hurt Queenslanders and end up costing jobs.”
Media contact: Nelson Savanh 0424 988 523
