Springborg’s pie-in-the-sky plan

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson praised Energex and Ergon Energy workers in State Parliament today for their tremendous effort in repairing power lines and restoring power in the aftermath of last week’s violent storms.

Minister Wilson said the damage was not confined to overhead power lines.

“Many homes in and around The Gap where there are underground power lines, lost supply for 24 hours or more,” he said.

“It takes longer to repair underground lines because you’ve got to find the fault first. Overhead lines feed the power underground, and if there’s a violent storm and trees fall on those overhead feeder lines, everyone’s in the same boat.

“We’re talking about wild weather and some of the most violent storms in more than 25 years. One after another, they battered our suburbs,” he said.

Around 365,000 homes and businesses had lost power since Sunday night and by the end of the working week, all but 60 homes and businesses were awaiting reconnection.

“And now the Leader of the Opposition wants to underground all power lines. It’s easy to make pie-in-the-sky promises in Opposition. It would cost more than $35 billion, and that’s conservative,” Mr Wilson told State Parliament.

“The Leader of the Opposition’s reckless, irresponsible $35 billion spending binge would send electricity prices sky high.

“It would cost every man, woman and child in Queensland $8,750 a year. You have to ask: What services would he cut? Would he close our hospitals, shut down our schools, and slash the roads budget?”

Minister Wilson said even on the issue of underground powerlines, the National Party couldn’t agree with the Liberal Party.

Liberal Lord Mayor Campbell Newman told The Australian last week: ‘Frankly, I don’t think it’s practical.’”

“Mr Springborg can only offer division with a few ‘thought bubbles’ thrown in for good measure,” he said.

“The Bligh Government offers a plan for the future. We’re taking action today and building tomorrow’s Queensland,” he said.

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