Queensland households score $1000 off energy bills

Queensland households will score a $1000 energy bill discount under a $2.5 billion government spending splash on cost of living relief.

Premier Steven Miles announced the major cash injection on Thursday as rising power prices bear down on Queenslanders.

“I said we would use the budget to deliver cost of living relief but I’ve decided it’s too urgent to wait that long,” he said.

“We are delivering the biggest cost of living relief package in Queensland history to back Queenslanders in the fight against inflation.”

The rebate will apply to bills from July and many Queenslanders won’t pay a single cent until 2025, Miles touted.

Seniors and concession card holders will receive a bit more support with a $1372 rebate while small businesses will continue scoring $325.

A special appropriation bill will be introduced to bring forward the rebate.

It will be the biggest helping hand provided to households in Australia, with other state and territory governments providing between $250 and $500 in energy relief.

“It’s the biggest ever rebate offered by any government in Australia’s history and is expected to save Queenslanders more than $2.5 billion,” Deputy Premier Cameron Dick said.

The rebate is nearly double the amount provided to Queenslanders last year and is funded by the state’s coal royalties.

The government claims Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the $550 rebate in 2023 lowered electricity bills by 9.5 per cent.

The latest rebate is expected to halve the average yearly power bill for Queenslanders over the next financial year.

The cash splash comes ahead of the June budget with the state government spruiking further cost of living support.

The federal budget in just a week’s time is also expected to deliver energy relief to households after delivering a $500 rebate to residents and $650 to small businesses last year.

AAP