Palaszczuk’s wage gift to unions to push power prices even higher

14 Oct 2017 9:28 AMMichael Hart

 

Palaszczuk’s wage gift to unions to push power prices even higher

Saturday, 14 October 2017

 

• Annastacia Palaszczuk’s excessive wage offer to electricity workers smacks of an election eve favour to the ETU

• Labor offers Energy Queensland workers a 3 per cent wage rise – far higher than other government workers – clear payback for $300,000 in political donations from electrical unions

• Labor’s grubby deal will push Queenslanders’ power bills even higher

 

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s election eve wage gift to Queensland energy workers is set to push Queenslanders’ power bills even higher.

 

LNP Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart said revelations Labor had offered some Energy Queensland workers wage rises 1.2 per cent higher than other government workers was clear payback for $300,000 in political donations from electrical unions.

 

“It’s clear the Palaszczuk Labor Government is owned lock, stock and barrel by the union movement,” Mr Hart said.

 

“What’s also clear is that Annastacia Palaszczuk cares more about keeping the ETU happy than she does in cutting power prices for struggling Queensland families – it’s a disgrace.

 

“Queenslanders will be pay higher electricity bills to fund these union sweeteners.

 

“Electrical unions have donated $300,000 to Queensland Labor since Annastacia Palaszczuk was elected and now, on the eve of the election, the union bosses have got what they paid for.

 

“It doesn’t matter to the Premier that these wage hikes for energy workers are far more than our hard-working teachers, nurses and police get, and almost twice that received by private sector workers – when the ETU says jump, Labor says how high.”*

 

Mr Hart said this dirty deal with the unions was the latest in a long line of failed power policies from the Palaszczuk Labor Government and Queenslanders were paying the price.

 

“Labor’s ‘Mr 26 degrees’ Mark Bailey has already delivered record high electricity prices to Queenslanders and this sweetheart deal with the unions will push their bills even higher,” he said.

 

“This week Mark Bailey told consumers they need to set their air conditioners to 26 degrees or face blackouts, now he’s struck a grubby deal with his union mates in desperate bid to secure support ahead of the state election.

 

“Only the LNP has a plan to rein in spiralling power prices and help Queensland businesses and families make ends meet.”

 

Media contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754