Media | Local News

Labor’s cynical attempt to pretend it cares about Wide Bay power prices

15th August 2017
  • Labor’s thought bubble on power only focuses on those living in the south-east and to hell with those struggling families living in Regional Queensland
  • Labor has no credibility when it comes to power prices – with a 70% increase in wholesale electricity prices under Annastacia Palaszczuk
  • Annastacia Palaszczuk’s energy policies have failed each and every household, small business and manufacturer in this state

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s cynical attempt in the dying days of her government to pretend she cares about rising power prices shows how desperate Labor has become to secure votes ahead of the next state election.

Liberal National Party Leader Tim Nicholls said Labor’s announcement today would do nothing for struggling Queensland families that had been slugged to the back teeth with record power price rises under Labor.

He said he understood the effects higher power prices had on Queensland families and it was the number one issue raised with him irrespective of where he was in the state.

“This proves that Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor have been using people’s electricity bill to tax them by stealth,” Mr Nicholls said.

“The announcement today is nothing but a cynical attempt by an inexperienced Premier who still hasn’t worked out how to lower energy prices for each and every household, small business and manufacturer in the state.”

LNP Deputy Leader Deb Frecklington said Regional Queensland households, businesses and farmers could not afford another three years of Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor.

“Regional Queensland is hurting and this government doesn’t care. In fact, two of Annastacia Palaszczuk’s own MPs took the extraordinary step last week to call her out publicly on that fact,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Labor’s announcement is purely for households in the south-east – what a slap in the face that is for people living in Mackay, Townsville and Cairns from this Brisbane-centric government.

“Under the Palaszczuk Labor Government, Queenslanders are paying more for power than ever before as electricity prices hit record highs.

“Higher power prices are a tax by stealth – pure and simple. Everywhere I travel, people in Queensland are frustrated, angry and fearful about the price of power.

“Labor created this mess – it started with Beattie and Bligh and now Annastacia Palaszczuk is making it worse.”