Queensland election 2017: LNP to hand out $75m to farmers

A CASH splash for farmers is meant to reduce power bills, but the LNP says those on the land can use the money however they like.

Farmers will be paid to reduce their power bill.

MORE than 17,000 farmers will be paid $1400 a year to reduce their power bills under a $75 million cash splash by the LNP.

But recipients will not be required to spend the cash on anything in particular, with LNP leader Tim Nicholls saying he trusts them to use the money wisely.

The Food and Fibre Transition Payment will go to farmers and irrigators on tariffs 62, 65 and 66 for three years from July 2018 before the tariffs are phased out and new yet-to-be-set tariffs are introduced in 2021.

The LNP’s policy document said it was hoped the assistance would be invested in smart meters, energy audits, energy-efficient technology or paying down rising power bills.

However, it said farmers could use the transition payment for any purpose.

Tim Nicholls (left) chats to sweet potato and watermelon farmer Peter Greensill. Picture: Dan Peled/AAP

Energy Minister Mark Bailey said the policy paled in comparison to Labor’s Energy Saver Plus program, which audited farmers and paid a 50 per cent contribution of up to $20,000 towards energy-saving changes.

Mr Nicholls, who visited a Bundaberg watermelon and sweet potato farm to announce the policy, would not reveal how the policy would be funded.

He said official policy costings would be released in the days before the November 25 poll, as he fended off questions about how he would pay for the $2 billion in campaign promises he had made so far.

However, he said he could “guarantee” he would not surprise voters with “significant cost cutting”, as the Newman government had done.

Originally published as Queensland election 2017: LNP to hand out $75m to farmers