Queenslanders prepare for Palaszczuk’s power price shock

30 Nov 2016 10:34 AMMichael Hart

 

Queenslanders prepare for Palaszczuk’s power price shock

Wednesday, 30 November 2016

 

• Annastacia Palaszczuk must give an ironclad guarantee electricity prices will not increase

• Queenslanders need to know who is paying and if they will be taxed to subsidise Labor’s unrealistic renewable energy target

• Labor needs to come clean about the cost to Queenslanders of their crazy green scheme

 

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s aggressive 50% renewable energy policy is set to be exposed today by a Queensland Productivity Commission report which the Premier has been hiding for more than six months.

 

Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart said Queenslanders should not be left to foot the bill after the Commission warned in its draft report Labor’s policy would cost $10.8 billion in subsidies.

 

“Labor’s refusal to release the Queensland Productivity Commission report for six months shows they are hiding the impacts and costs of their unrealistic renewable energy target,” Mr Hart said.

 

“Energy Minister Mark Bailey needs to come clean and tell Queenslanders how he will pay for it.

 

“And Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to guarantee Queenslanders that their power bills won’t rise for households or businesses as a result of her policies which are driven by a need for Green preferences.

 

“Under Labor’s plans, Queenslanders will have to pay more but will receive less.”

 

Mr Hart said Labor claimed its policy would be “broadly cost-neutral” but the Grattan Institute has described this claim as an “economic illusion”.  

 

“Leaving the release of this report to the last minute is just another example of this asleep at the wheel Labor Government putting their own interests ahead of everyday Queenslanders.

 

“Moving towards renewable energy sources makes sense but not if all Queenslanders end up paying higher power bills to subsidise green energy.

 

“This bungled response only highlights that the Palaszczuk Government has no plan to drive down the cost of living for Queensland families.

 

“We support the National Renewable Energy Target and welcome the Turnbull Government’s investment in job-creating projects for Queensland.”

 

Media Contact: Nicholas Adermann 0407 808 016