Steven Miles urges Queensland billionaires to donate $1000 power rebates to charity

Steven Miles has a message for Queensland billionaires like Clive Palmer in relation to the state government’s $1000 energy rebates. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Premier Steven Miles has urged Queensland billionaires to donate their $1000 energy rebates to charity. Picture: David Clark

Premier Steven Miles has urged Queensland billionaires such as Clive Palmer to give their $1000 power rebates to charity as he again spruiked the government’s cost-of-living bill relief.

Mr Miles has been under pressure to explain why the rebate – which would cost the budget $2.5bn – would go to even the richest people in the state.

Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Asked how he felt about billionaires such as Mr Palmer being eligible for $1000 off his power bill, the Premier said “if there was a mechanism to stop Clive from getting those rebates I would take it” – even though the government opted not to means test the rebate.

“But it would limit the access of other people to get those rebates,” he said.

“So to Clive, and the other billionaires in the state, I’d just encourage them to give that money to charity.”

Mr Miles and Treasurer Cameron Dick announced on Thursday the government would implement a $1000 rebate on every Queensland household’s power bill.

Seniors, pensioners and concession card holders would receive a total of $1372 off their power bills, while small businesses would continue to get $325 off power bills.

Mr Dick said the $2.5bn package would be funded by the coal royalties.

But he defended the move to give the rebate to every Queenslander, saying the wealthy “deserve assistance” as well.

“It doesn’t matter the demographic, doesn’t matter the age, doesn’t matter the geography, doesn’t matter where you live or who you are, what your job is – everyone’s feeling cost of living pressures,” he said.

“This is a responsible thing for government to do.”

The Courier-Mail has contacted Mr Palmer for comment.