Power bill pain a new Qld election 2024 battleground at Bundaberg

Power bill relief for businesses and farmers is the latest electoral battleground to emerge at Bundaberg, which Labor holds by the slimmest margin in the state.

Bundaberg LNP candidate Bree Watson and incumbent Labor MP Tom Smith are clashing over energy bill relief for farmers as the fight for Queensland's most marginal seat continues.

Sparks are flying in the government’s most marginal seat with the major parties clashing over how they plan to deliver cheaper energy to farmers and small businesses.

A promise by Labor and its incumbent MP Tom Smith to deliver power bill cuts by way of tariff cuts has been rebuked by LNP candidate Bree Watson, who said the government’s track record of energy management failure spoke for itself.

Mr Smith announced the proposed tariff changes one day after Premier Steven Miles visited the electorate, which Labor holds by only nine votes.

The incumbent MP said he rallied behind local businesses to secure a new tariff classification that will have a significant impact, particularly in regional areas.

Mr Smith said at his media stand-up the new tariff classification, part of Labor’s plan to lower energy prices, is expected to reduce power bills by up to 60 per cent on average.

Bundaberg’s incumbent Labor MP Tom Smith is joined by regional farmers as he announced his party’s plans to cut thousands of dollars from their power bills.

This would lead to savings of thousands of dollars, he said. 

Mr Smith said it was the local Bundaberg Ag-Food and Fibre Alliance who first raised this critical matter with him.
“Together we fought hard to secure this announcement for all of Queensland,” Mr Smith said.

The government’s plan also includes the creation of a new statewide energy retailer, aimed at driving competition and providing more choices for consumers in regional areas.

The announcement was dismissed by Ms Watson, who said the Labor government had only managed to drive prices in the opposite direction thanks to its mismanagement of assets.

“Our power plants drove up Queenslanders’ power bills by 19.9 per cent in just one year,” Ms Watson said.

LNP candidate Bree Watson said Labor’s track record on power bills, which she said have increased significantly under Labor, spoke for itself. Photo Paul Beutel

“Both the Queensland Competition Authority and the Auditor-General have found Labor’s mismanagement of the Callide power plant have sent costs skyrocketing for Queenslanders.

She said Labor’s ‘failures’ cost small businesses big.

“The LNP is committed to driving down the long-term cost pressures on electricity with our Electricity Maintenance Guarantee.”

“The LNP has not only ruled out selling any state owned energy assets we put forward an amendment to legislation to keep our energy assets in public hands, but Labor voted against it.

“Our plan is to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy and we’ll have more to announce about this during the election.”

The battle over power bills is one of several clashes between LNP candidate Bree Watson and incumbent Labor MP Tom Smith as they battle for the Bundaberg seat, won by Mr Smith in 2020 by a nine vote margin.

The battle over power bills is one of several clashes between the pair at Bundaberg, with Mr Smith this week digging in on his calls for Ms Watson to make clear her position on abortion amid revelations a minor party bill could be tabled calling for the laws to be overturned.

Ms Watson has not yet made clear her position, although an LNP spokeswoman has responded saying the party did not plan to make any changes if elected.

Mr Smith and Ms Watson have also gone toe to toe on the cost of repairing Paradise Dam, the lack of progress on Bundaberg’s new hospital, and the lack of commitment to the Bundaberg East Flood Levee as the battle for marginal seat continues.

Originally published as Power bill pain a new Qld election 2024 battleground at Bundaberg