QUEENSLAND Farmers’ Federation president Stuart Armitage says the ‘sudden revelation’ from the ACCC and the Federal Government that there is a severe electricity affordability problem validates what farmers have been pointing out for years.
Mr Armitage said the ongoing ‘energy crisis’ was nothing new for Queensland farmers, who over the past decade had experienced electricity price increases of at least 130 per cent. For some, the cost of this basic need and critical farm input has risen by 300pc. Over the same period, CPI has increased by just 21pc, he said.
“The viability of farming and other regional businesses continues to be challenged, almost solely due to the rising cost of electricity,” Mr Armitage said.
“For our sector, it has been a long road getting governments to take this issue seriously and to start committing to genuine action to deal with it.”
Mr Armitage said with the ‘energy crisis’ issue now well and truly in the mainstream political climate, the eyes of all politicians should be open to the very real implications this issue will have at ballot boxes throughout the country, with Queensland being the first state to the polls.
“The issue certainly has everyone’s focused attention now, but unfortunately, governments still appear to be playing catch up with what is needed,” he said.
It has been a long road getting governments to take this issue seriously and to start committing to genuine action to deal with it.
- Stuart Armitage, president, QFF
“We have had assurances from politicians over several years for ‘downward pressure’ on electricity prices, with no reprieve. The time for ‘downward pressure’ has well and truly passed. Farmers need price relief.”
This state election, QFF urges all political parties to commit to actions that drive down electricity prices in the interest of farmers, regional businesses, regional communities and the state’s economy by:
- Directing Energy Queensland to optimise network assets and set network prices at efficient levels, at least 40pc below existing levels.
- Removing the hidden taxes on the Government Owned Corporations, such as competitive neutrality payments.
- Removing the solar bonus from a network charge.
- A comprehensive reform of existing electricity network tariffs that are appropriate and affordable for primary producers.
Opposition leader Tim Nicholls said the LNP would join forces with farmers and industry to address out-of-control electricity prices.
“We understand farmers can’t grow their businesses or plan for the future when they’re weighed down by crippling power prices,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Farmers are facing astronomical electricity price rises due to poor policy decisions by this do-nothing Labor Government. This year alone electricity prices on farm and irrigation tariffs are increasing by up to 5.1pc - almost triple the rate of inflation.
“It isn’t good enough and it’s why the Liberal National Party will re-established the Agriculture Energy and Water Council that was axed by Labor as soon as they came to government.
“This council brings farmers, Ministers and Energy Queensland to the table to tackle critical issues such as tariff reform and spiralling prices.
“The LNP set up the Council in late 2014 as many farmers faced the prospect of electricity prices doubling in 2020 when the obsolete tariffs ended.
“Only the LNP has a plan to reduce power prices by scrapping Labor’s crazy 50 per cent renewable target, fast-tracking a privately built, low-emissions, coal-fired power plant for North Queensland, freezing power company executive bonuses until electricity prices come down and appointing consumer representatives to the boards of Energy Queensland and Powerlink.”
