Callide power station explosion: Deb Frecklington takes aim at Mick de Brenni

Newly appointed Opposition ­energy spokeswoman Deb Frecklington has launched her maiden attack on Minister Mick de Brenni over the Callide power station debacle.

Newly appointed Opposition ­energy spokeswoman and former LNP leader Deb Frecklington has launched her maiden attack on opponent Minister Mick de Brenni, ­demanding the release of a highly anticipated report into the Callide C power station explosion.

More than two-and-a-half years after the catastrophic May 2021 explosion and fire that took out the C4 unit and led to mass blackouts across the state, Queenslanders remain in the dark over just what happened at the state-owned power station.

Last month, Energy Minister Mr de Brenni said an independent review of the failure, ­conducted by forensic engineer Sean Brady, would be finalised “soon”.

But Ms Frecklington – who was handed the high-profile duopoly of energy and cost of living during the December shadow ministry reshuffle, sparked by the resignation of premier Annastacia Palaszczuk – said Queenslanders deserved to know what had happened, and whether it was hitting their power bills.

“There are massive challenges facing Queensland’s ­energy market – most of which have been caused by Labor’s mess,” she said.

Opposition energy spokeswoman Deb Frecklington

“There is no excuse for the lack of stability we are facing, and the fact we have the highest prices in the country”.

About 470,000 Queensland homes and businesses lost power after the 2021 incident, which destroyed the C4 unit, but Mr de Brenni said at the time the incident was not expected to increase household power prices.

But a report by Auditor-General Brendan Worrall, released last year, detailed “a lack of supply, from unplanned maintenance in power plants like Callide is a primary factor in driving up electricity prices”.

A report released last month also stated that “although Queensland’s average annual wholesale price decreased, Queensland and New South Wales had the highest electricity price in Australia in 2022–23”.

Delays have also plagued the return of the C4 unit – once spruiked by Mr de Brenni as set to return by the end of 2022, then throughout 2023, the most recent timetable is set at July, 2024.

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni

The C3 unit return date – which was set to return at 50 per cent capacity by January 7 – has also been pushed back to later in the month.

Ms Frecklington said she expected there would be “diabolic findings” made by Mr Brady in his report in regards to maintenance and issues linked to the Callide C3 incident, but admitted that was speculation.

“But one can only speculate because the findings haven't been released,” she said.
“What are they hiding? Why should Queenslanders be ­paying the highest power prices in the country for the least-stable grid?”

Ms Frecklington’s elevation in the shadow ministry gives her the highest position she has held since she was Opposition leader.

The former LNP leader went toe-to-toe with Ms Palaszczuk during the hotly contested 2020 state election, but was ultimately defeated after the Labor government steered of the state through the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.