Bright future for safe and reliable energy and water supply

The Queensland Government’s commitment to providing safe, reliable energy and water for all Queenslanders has received a further boost in the 2014-15 State Budget.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said today’s Budget carefully balanced increases in education, health and community services spending, while not introducing or raising any new taxes or reducing services.

“This budget outlines our plan for secure finances by making the strongest and smartest choice to reduce debt, it’s a strong plan for a bright future,” Mr Nicholls said.

“We are making significant progress in restoring our finances, growing a four pillar economy through a robust and streamlined regulatory environment, revitalising frontline services and funding job creating infrastructure projects.”

Energy and Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle said rural and regional Queenslanders would continue to be supported by $683 million in subsidies which ensured they paid the same electricity price as people living in Brisbane, despite significantly higher supply costs to more remote areas.

“Unfortunately the biggest challenge still facing our sector remains the reining in of significant costs associated with the former Labor governments’ planning failures and reckless spending,” Mr McArdle said.

“Labor’s carbon tax is adding around $170 to the annual electricity bill for an average Queensland household.”

Mr McArdle said the 2014-15 Budget delivered the certainty required for his department to refocus and modernise in line with upcoming 30-year electricity and water plans that would chart the way for affordable and sustainable energy and water provisions for Queensland into the future.

“Funding has also been increased for the Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland, which provides free and independent dispute resolution services to energy customers across the State and to water customers in the south east,” he said.

“The Ombudsman resolved more than 14,000 complaint cases during 2012-13.

“Today’s Budget ensures we will continue to deliver our wide-reaching reforms to stabilise electricity prices and develop a long-term Tariff Reform Strategy to give electricity consumers a greater choice of options to manage their consumption and bills.

“We’ll also complete optimisation studies covering the management of Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams and complete water supply security assessments for priority regional areas while delivering further red tape reductions across Queensland’s energy and water sectors.”

[ENDS] 3 June 2014

Media Contact: Phil Hind 0437 334 183