Labor has called on the state government to ensure regional Queensland’s energy bills are looked after in the 2025/26 budget

Regional Queenslanders could be slugged with a huge increase on their power bill this year, with pleas for the government to step in and help.

David Janetzki says cost of living measures will be in the budget.

Labor leader Steven Miles is calling on the LNP to not break their promise to the people of Queensland and make sure that energy prices go down.

The state opposition leader was in Townsville this week to speak with shadow ministers, community members, organisations and businesses about what they would like Labor to deliver in the future.

This comes as Labor say new data shows regional Queenslanders will need to find an extra $167 a week to pay their electricity bill.

“David Crisafulli promised Queenslanders that energy bills would be lower and that he would continue to deliver energy rebates,” Mr Miles said.

“But now we learn that energy prices will in fact be higher and there will be no energy rebates to help average households with those costs.”

Opposition leader Steven Miles. - Photo Steve Pohlner

Deputy Labor Leader, Cameron Dick, said the number one issue affecting Queenslanders is cost of living and the state government needs to address that in next Tuesday’s budget.

“Unless the government sticks to its promises and delivers cost of living relief, Queenslanders will know this, David Crisafulli’s LNP will provide just another hit to the hip pocket of Queenslanders,” he said.

“There is going to be a power of pain going straight into the pain going straight into the hip pockets of Queenslanders next week.”

Treasurer David Janetzki said in the budget there would be “targeted and responsible” cost of living measures.

He said there would be more information in the budget next week, but his focus was “downward pressure” on power bill.

Mr Janetzki said this included supporting power providers to better maintain infrastructure and therefore, reducing costs past on to residents.

“The support for vulnerable households that has always been (in the budget) will continue,” he said.

Originally published as Labor has called on the state government to ensure regional Queensland’s energy bills are looked after in the 2025/26 budget