Labor did not backflip on asset sales
I refer to the letter which appeared in Saturday’s edition (October 16) of the Star from your regular contributor, Peter Smith of Rosslea.
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Mr Smith accused the Labor Government of what he perceives as a backflip on asset sales.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Campbell Newman Government was thrown out of office, at the last election, for its mishandling of the affairs of our state and also because they were going to flog off the government owned enterprises causing massive job losses.
By comparison the Palasczuk government’s Advancing Our Cities and Regions strategy will drive urban renewal developments across the state.
Under this strategy the recent announcement from the Labor government was about selling off parcels of land which had been unused or underutilised for years draining the taxpayers purse and for which there were no plans to use for anything.
Our premier made it clear that all revenue raised by the selling of these vacant blocks would go towards building much needed infrastructure not only in Brisbane but driving urban renewal developments across the state in the eight identified priority and economic community zones, providing more jobs, better community facilities more affordable housing and promoting significant economic growth in our state.
I support this move as most unbiased people would.
This infrastructure will provide jobs and economic growth all around Queensland.
Isn’t that what we are crying out for?
Good on our premier and her government.
She certainly has my support.
Kendall Santillan
Mount Isa
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Energy security is critical
The priority of any government should be to keep the lights on. Energy security is number one, with the second consideration being to ensure energy supply is affordable.
South Australia plunged into darkness on September 28, underscoring the pitfalls of moving too fast and soon towards ultimately unrealistic renewable energy targets.
Nobody is disputing that a ferocious storm triggered the blackout.
But it remains that with 40% of its energy needs now dependent on renewables, South Australia – bereft of a baseload power supply to meet minimum demand – is exposed.
Variable and intermittent power sources such as wind and solar can’t be relied upon to consistently push out volts.
That adds to the instability of the network, leaving it more vulnerable to events such as storms.
We saw affordability was an issue when South Australia effectively ran out of electricity and the price of wholesale power soared, hurting householders and industry.
In Queensland, we don’t want our hospitals losing power or our manufacturing industry relying on intermittent power, or families left in the dark at home – and paying more for that trauma.
Yet, unfortunately, the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s 50% Renewable Energy Target by 2030 is sending us down that slope.
The LNP supports renewable energy but we are not prepared to compromise energy security or to spark higher electricity costs.
The Queensland Productivity Commission Draft Report into Electricity Pricing – commissioned by the Palaszczuk Government – found Labor’s 50% renewable energy policy would require a taxpayer subsidy of about $10.8 billion to 2030 and shrink Queensland’s economy by billions.
With renewables a bit player (about 4%) in the state’s power mix, there is plenty of room to grow. However, the LNP believes the national 23.5% RET by 2020 strikes the right balance, being both achievable and realistic.
Tim Nicholls
Queensland Opposition Leader