Statement from LNP Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart:
"Queensland households are paying around $42 more for electricity a year under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
"Today’s modest reduction in wholesale electricity prices from the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) is only because the LNP called out government-owned generator Stanwell for gaming the market.
"Under Labor there is a lack of competition in the wholesale electricity market which is causing sustained high wholesale prices.
"Labor’s so-called CleanCo* isn’t reducing prices – the experts and industry don’t know how it will operate because Labor hasn’t even set it up despite it being a key election commitment.
"The government directed the QCA to take the introduction of CleanCo into account in finalising this determination but the QCA and their consultants were unable to do so as Labor’s new company doesn’t exist (page 37 QCA report).
"Annastacia Palaszczuk should immediately introduce retail competition across the state to bring power bills down.
"It’s not fair that people in regional Queensland can’t chose who they buy their electricity from.
"Irrigators got no decrease at all from today’s QCA determination – another kick in the guts to our farmers from Labor.
"The Palaszczuk Government is treating people in regional Queensland like second class citizens and dividing the state."
*CleanCo was promised by Labor to deliver 1,000MW of new, affordable renewable energy projects for Queensland.
