December 10, 2018
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has told Prime Minister Scott Morrison that if the Coalition wants to win Queensland at the upcoming Federal Election, he should slash Queenslanders’ power bills.
Mrs Frecklington has written to the Prime Minister requesting he provide the compensation needed for Queensland to write-down the value of its electricity grid by $7 billion.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported earlier this year that over-investment in Queensland’s poles and wires had needlessly inflated household bills by $240 in south-east Queensland and $300 in regional areas.
“If the Prime Minister wants to win Queensland at the next election he should support this bill-busting policy,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk hasn’t lifted a finger to help struggling households, but that doesn’t let Canberra off the hook.
“Scott Morrison isn’t to blame for Queensland’s crippling energy bills, but he can help cut them.
“Queensland consumers are being blatantly ripped off and I’ll do all I can to help them.”
The ACCC report followed a previous study by the Grattan Institute that recommended the State Government write down $7 billion from the distribution and transmission businesses of the publicly owned Powerlink and Energy Queensland corporations.
Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart said the Queensland LNP’s economic plan, released in June, had already committed the party to major reforms of the State’s energy sector to cut bills for households and business.
These included splitting Queensland’s electricity generation business from two into three, creating more competition and driving down prices.
The LNP has also called for private energy retailers to be allowed to compete in regional Queensland in a bid to drive down prices further for consumers.
“If Scott Morrison and Annastacia Palaszczuk adopted our plans, Queensland households would see their bills fall by as much as $650 a year,” Mr Hart said.
“Households are struggling and Queensland now has the highest unemployment in Australia.
“This State desperately needs bold ideas for boost the economy and the Queensland LNP has them.”
