Carbon tax scrapping to lower electricity bills for Queenslanders

The average Queensland family will save about $170 a year off their household electricity bill as a result of the vote to finally repeal Labor’s toxic carbon tax.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Energy Minister Mark McArdle applauded the senate’s vote to axe the tax and said it brought some welcome cost of living relief for Queensland families.

Mr Nicholls said Prime Minister Tony Abbott is to be congratulated for delivering the outcome that Australians overwhelming voted for.

“Labor’s carbon tax has not only been an unnecessary slug on the Queensland economy, it’s also failed its primary purpose - to have any real impact on lowering carbon emissions,” he said.

“What’s really disappointing is that Labor’s Queensland senators yet again voted against the repeal of their carbon tax, showing once and for all that they will only stand up for their Greens mates, not Queensland families.”

Mr McArdle said the scrapping of the carbon tax will deliver real savings for Queenslander’s on their electricity bills.

“The independent Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) has found that the rise in the domestic tariff 11 for 2014-15 will now be just 5.1 per cent instead of 13.6%,” he said.

“The average household on Tariff 11 and a load control tariff (hot water and/or pool pump tariff) could expect to save around $170 this financial year.

“There are also significant tariff reductions across the board for Queensland businesses and farmers.

“The industry must respond to the repeal of the carbon tax by passing on the savings to Queensland families.”

The attached table details the impact of removing the carbon tax on all Queensland electricity tariffs.

Mr McArdle said while one of Labor’s big hits on Queensland electricity bills had finally been eliminated, unfortunately we are all still paying the price for Labor’s planning failures, network gold-plating and economically-irresponsible political interventions in the market.

“The recently launched PowerQ: a 30 year strategy for Queensland’s electricity sector is the Newman Government’s strong plan to stabilise future electricity prices.”

[ENDS] 17 July 2014

Media Contact – Treasurer Nicholls office: 3719 7200

Media Contact – Minister McArdle: Phil Hind 0437 334 183