The light’s on, but no one’s home

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson told State Parliament tonight that more than $6 billion was being spent on electricity infrastructure in Queensland over five years to make the electricity network stronger.

Minister Wilson told State Parliament the big spend was a big factor in the independent economic regulator’s draft decision to raise the ceiling on electricity prices by 13.6% from 1 July next year.

“You’ve only got to look at what happened after those violent storms hit the south east corner recently to see that it was money well spent.

“230,000 homes and businesses lost power and within 72 hours it was back on. It showed the real strength of the state’s electricity network,” he said.

“When the Coalition last had control of the electricity network they plunged the state into darkness for four whole days.

“Here’s what the Courier Mail reported at the time along with claims that Government bungling had shut down the state: ‘The blackouts triggered unprecedented chaos, closing down sewage plants and causing untreated sewage to overflow into creeks and drains across the city.’

“That went on for four whole days and now they want to bring in veto powers to return Queensland to the dark ages. Their plan will cost Queenslanders $620 million. What vital services will they cut to do this?

“It’s reckless, ridiculous grandstanding. Our solid record of spending on electricity infrastructure means that on their side of the Chamber the lights are on. It’s unfortunate that no one’s home.

“The Leader of the Opposition knows all about the power to veto. He vetoed our ban on tree clearing. He vetoed the water grid, recycled water, our rebates for water tanks.

“He vetoed our ban on nuclear power stations, nuclear waste and nuclear enrichment plants. He’s Veni, Vidi, Veto. He came, he saw, he vetoed,” Mr Wilson said.

“No amount of grandstanding can change the fact that the Opposition supported our Bill to open up the electricity market to competition.

“The Member for Clayfield, Tim Nicholls said, and I quote: ‘I congratulate the government. This Bill is a positive step for Queenslanders. Privatisation is good for consumers’.

“That was two years ago. And they’ve been strangely silent since.

“All they ever offer is an opinion on everything and a solution for nothing.

“If we hadn’t opened up the electricity market to competition, prices would be a lot higher today.

“We broke the monopoly so that people can now shop around. They’re not forced to pay top dollar.

“There’s a cap on electricity prices and you can’t charge any more than that cap.

“Under the old system, prices went up year after year and people were forced to pay the top price. Under the old system, there was a monopoly – there was only one player in the market.

“People can shop around now and half a million households and businesses have taken up an offer from electricity billing companies in the open market.

“Current deals from electricity retailers include one month’s free electricity, a 4% discount off your bill with another, green energy options, and another retailer is offering an up front discount on the first bill.

“I’ve directed my Department to closely scrutinise the draft decision by the independent economic regulator to make sure any price rise only reflects the true cost of supplying electricity to Queenslanders.

“If it doesn’t stack up, we’ll take up the fight for consumers.

“Queensland’s not alone when it comes to electricity price rises. Other states have been hit hard. Our electricity prices are still among the cheapest in the country.

“Even so, we know it’s going to hurt struggling households and we won’t turn our back on them.

“We stepped in to help the battlers before and we’ll do it again with our millions of dollars in subsidies, rebates and hardship fund because we’re on the side of the consumer,” Mr Wilson said.

Media Inquiries: Ellen McIntyre 3225 1819