The Palaszczuk Government today condemned the Morrison Government for refusing to rule out a proposal that could drive up power bills for some Queenslanders by up to 30 per cent.
Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham today accused Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor of putting politics ahead of people’s power bills with its proposal for a default electricity price for households and small business.
Speaking from a meeting of state, territory and Commonwealth energy ministers in Adelaide today, Dr Lynham condemned the Morrison Government for its "half-baked" proposal in the face of independent advice that it could drive up household prices.
"The independent advice from the Australian Energy Market Commission is that this proposed default offer could increase prices for at least some customers on market offers, increase some standing offer prices, and reduce the range of offers available in the market," he said.
"In the short term, this Federal proposal could mean that south-east Queensland families who have made the effort to shop around and save would now lose those savings.
"Queensland has the lowest prices in the country, reliable supply and a planned transition to a renewable future.
"Labor committed to Queenslanders that we could keep electricity price increases at or below inflation for two years.
"That’s why I’ve stood up for Queenslanders here today, only to see the Morrison Government refuse to drop this half-baked proposal that will hit power bills."
The Federal Government proposal is for a default price for households and small business. It would replace the standing offers that electricity retailers provide in competitive markets like south-east Queensland.
Federal Minister Taylor also used meeting rules to block states and territories seeking to force the Commonwealth into adopting higher emissions reductions targets.
State and territory energy ministers sought to have emissions reductions targets added to national electricity laws, in effect binding any national government to them unless states and territories agreed to change them.
Even the LNP Government in New South Wales has abandoned any allegiance with their Federal colleagues, calling the Morrison Government ‘out of touch’ on climate and energy policy.
aaThe Federal Coalition abandoned Paris emissions reductions targets with the National Energy Guarantee mid-year following LNP partyroom pressure from hardline backbenchers, including Tony Abbott
Energy ministers also agreed to progress reference pricing, which would make it easier for consumers to compare offers.
