Poll promises more than $1000 off bills as LNP turns election debate to cost of living

THE LNP will launch a poll offensive today to convince Queenslanders they are going to be more than $1000 better off under fairer electricity pricing and reduced government fees.

Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply Minister Mark Bailey (left), Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Clare Solar Farm project manager Wayne Staunton and ALP candidate for Burdekin Mike Brunker. (AAP Image / Darren England)

THE LNP will today launch a poll offensive to convince Queenslanders they are going to be more than $1000 better off each year under fairer electricity pricing and reduced government fees.

In the countdown to Saturday’s election, the focus has turned to “cost of living” with Opposition leader Tim Nicholls to use major address to outline reduced charges under an LNP Government.

Labor and the LNP are playing the blame game after a pricing inquiry shows retail electricity prices for Queenslanders increased by 257 per cent since 2004-05.

Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls is seen at Team Group Engineering in Mackay during the Queensland Election campaign. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Mr Nicholls told the Bulletin: “We know that local families and small business owners are doing it tough under Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk has been using electricity as a secret tax and it’s no wonder Queenslanders are experiencing record high electricity prices.”

Mr Nicholls will confirm the LNP in Government would for consumers:

* Reduce electricity by $780 over three years.

* Decrease family car rego $200 over three years.

* Provide free off-peak travel and half-price driver’s licences for seniors, at an annual saving of $720 a year.

* Give free swimming lessons for families with bubs and toddlers.

“This is a key priority for the LNP in our plan to Build a Better Queensland,” Mr Nicholls said.

Labor has documented the former Newman Government’s performance which saw a 45 per cent rise in electricity prices.

The LNP claims wholesale prices rose 60 per cent under Ms Palaszczuk’s watch. They also claim that under the Bligh Government — in which Ms Palaszczuk was a minister — there was a 55 per cent increase locked in for network prices from 2010 to 2015.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at Toonpan, 30km south east of Townsville where the new pipeline from the Burdekin Falls Dam to Ross River Dam will be built. Picture: Evan Morgan

The Labor Government told state-owned power generator Stanwell to cut profits this year after reaping $378 million in dividends.

The LNP is promising to scrap Labor’s 50 per cent renewable energy target saving households $220 a week from 2020.

Labor yesterday predicted thousands of regional Queenslanders would soon be paying less on their electricity bill after more than 3300 Ergon customers registered for a new energy rebate of $75 for households and $120 for small businesses.

Energy Minister Mark Bailey said he was pleased with the uptake so far, saying it was great to see so many regional Queenslanders taking advantage of the savings on offer.

“Under a re-elected Palaszczuk Government, the EasyPay Rewards program will provide annual bill relief from next month, and I encourage all Ergon customers to sign up to save money off their bill,” Mr Bailey said.

“We will also invest $15 million to get rid of the non-reversion policy, removing the restriction on regional customers who would like to return to Ergon Energy, giving households and small businesses choice and control over their power bills.”

Mr Bailey said the Government had stabilised electricity prices, ensuring Queensland enjoyed the lowest household price increase of any mainland state this year after 43 per cent price increases “under Tim Nicholls and Campbell Newman”.

“In 2012 the Newman-Nicholls government promised Queenslanders their electricity bills would go down, but instead they increased on average by $436,” Mr Bailey said.

“They hatched a plan to sell off our energy assets which would have meant higher price increases today, and wasted more than $100 million preparing to pull it off.

“Labor stopped that from happening.”