Queensland households face Labor’s huge electricity price hikes

June 29, 2010

Household budgets across Queensland will be under more pressure from July 1 as Labor drives up electricity prices, said Shadow Consumer Affairs Minister, Luke Hartsuyker.

Prices will rise by 13.29pc, following the decision by the Queensland Competition Authority.

“The scary thing about these increases is that they will be even higher if Federal Labor is returned at the next election. Queensland electricity increases would have been 50pc higher if Federal Labor had pressed ahead with its emissions trading scheme.  This would have had a devastating impact on low and middle income households and small business.”

Mr Hartsuyker said Australians were feeling the brunt of out of touch Labor Governments.   “This is the cost of living under Labor,” Mr Hartsuyker said.  “Before the election, Labor promised it would put downward pressure on the cost of living and this is what voters get – increases many times the Consumer Price Index which is currently 2.9pc.

“It makes no difference whether it’s Kevin Rudd or Julia Gillard in charge, Labor promises are clearly worth nothing. They said they’d do something about petrol prices and came up with FuelWatch which would have increased prices for most motorists.  Then they dropped it.

“They said they’d do something about food prices and came up with GROCERYchoice which was useless.  Then they dropped it.

“Now Julia Gillard has confirmed she will be setting a price for carbon which means these huge price rises will go even higher.  And she’s committed to the mining tax which will, in effect, be another great big tax on everything. This is the reality of life under Labor – broken promises, useless policies and rising prices.”