Our government knows farmers are doing it tough and we are working hard to put downward pressure on their electricity costs.

Our electricity pricing inquiry in 2015 led to a Regional Business Support Package, which we’ve expanded on under each of our major energy plans since.

Our agricultural tariff initiative is monitoring agricultural businesses on various electricity tariffs, including trialling Ergon Energy’s Tariff 33.

This is being trialled by farmers who can manage equipment – like irrigation pumps – with an interruptible supply. 

The Energy Savers Plus Program is being delivered in partnership with the Queensland Farmers Federation, to support 200 farms with a free energy audit and funding (of up to $20,000) to help improve their energy efficiency and reduce their operating costs.

The Palaszczuk Government has stabilised prices overall for farming and irrigation tariffs, with these prices increasing only 4.4 per cent per annum over the past four years.

Since 2012-13, the Queensland Competition Authority has been gradually phasing out these legacy retail tariffs because they are not cost reflective. 

For some customers on legacy tariffs, particularly those with high usage, their electricity costs are subsidised more than other regional business customers.

As a direct result of the affordability measures implemented by the Queensland Government, the QCA did not increase these tariffs for farming and irrigation customers in 2018-19.

Because of the action we have taken, some farming businesses would be better off now if they changed to standard business tariffs because those tariffs have decreased.

I encourage them to contact Ergon to check if they are on the best deal for them. 

Dr Anthony Lynham MP

Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy

The state of Queensland’s economy is dire, and the Palaszczuk Labor Government is seemingly blind to the economic red flags popping up every week.

The CCIQ Pulse Survey has shown Queensland’s business confidence is plummeting, and business conditions and profitability are continuing to rapidly weaken.

The CommSec State of State has now put the Queensland economy in 6th place in the nation behind South Australia and Tasmania.

Queensland building approvals have fallen for seven straight months, meaning less construction jobs and less people investing in Queensland.

And a damning Infrastructure Association Queensland report ranked Queensland’s economic stability and transparency miles behind the national average.

Queensland used to be an economic powerhouse, but now we’re way behind New South Wales and Victoria.

Between the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s five new taxes and Queensland having the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 6.1%, it’s easy to see why Queensland’s economy is stagnating.

Queenslanders are paying for the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s failure with more unemployment, higher taxes and smaller wage rises.

Only the LNP has a plan to strengthen our economy through cutting red-tape, investing in infrastructure and ruling out any new taxes.

Tim Mander

LNP Shadow Treasurer