BLOCKED: Labor votes against cost of living action for Queensland families

Statement by Deb Frecklington - Shadow Minister for Cost of Living

Labor has confirmed they're all talk and no action when it comes to addressing Queensland's Cost of Living Crisis, after they blocked the LNP’s bid to expand the Cost of Living Inquiry for Queenslanders.

The Palaszczuk-Miles Government voted against examining why Queenslanders are experiencing some of the highest price rises in the nation and how these cost pressures could be addressed by government.

The expanded Inquiry would have put the microscope on the rising costs the State Government controls while also holding the big supermarkets to account.

Labor’s decision means the Inquiry will be:

• BLOCKED from examining the impact of rising electricity prices, after Queensland experienced a 20% increase in power bills, the worst in the nation and triple the national average, with the Callide power plant being offline for nearly three years.
• BLOCKED from reviewing the impact of skyrocketing insurance prices, after Queensland experienced 18% increases in insurance due to the youth crime crisis and Labor’s failure to deliver flood resilience.
• BLOCKED from considering the impact of rising water costs, as well as a lack of water security, with the Government failing to build new dams and now tearing down the Paradise Dam, with no water security plan to bring down the cost of water for growers.
• BLOCKED from investigating the impact of increased transport costs, after Queensland experienced the biggest increases in transport costs in the nation, as a result of the Government’s failure to maintain and invest in our road and rail network.

Shadow Minister for Energy and Cost of Living Deb Frecklington said Labor’s decision was an insult to families who were struggling to make ends meet.

“Today Steven Miles proved he’s all show and no go when it comes to fighting rising prices for Queenslanders,” Ms Frecklington said.

"There's no question the big supermarkets should be held to account but so too should the Government that is influencing costs like electricity, transport, insurance and water.

“Families are buckling under the rising costs his Government controls and he’s blocked our ability to examine them.

“As we travel the State, skyrocketing cost of living is the number one issue raised by Queenslanders.

“Queenslanders know Labor’s chaos and crisis has driven-up costs in electricity, water, insurance and transport. 

 “Steven Miles must front-up and explain to Queenslanders why he blocked our expanded Inquiry that would have put downward pressure on prices.

“An LNP Government will expand the Cost of Living Inquiry because our priority is saving you paying for Labor’s failures.”