Queensland is ground zero for the cost of living crisis, with biggest electricity, health and transport costs in Australia
Queensland Labor Government driving-up cost pressure on families
New Consumer Price Index data has exposed the desperate cost of living pressures facing Queensland families, with the State facing the biggest increases in power prices of anywhere in the nation.
In the last year, Queenslanders faced significantly greater increases in electricity than any other state or territory, including:
- Queensland electricity costs skyrocketed 19.9%
- NSW electricity increased by 6.6%
- VIC electricity increased by 8.6%
- The national average increase for electricity was 6.9%
- WA, ACT and NT all had decreased electricity costs in 2023.
Both the Auditor-General and Queensland Competition Authority have confirmed the 2.5 year closure of the Callide power plant has driven-up electricity costs in Queensland.
Shadow Minister for Energy and Cost of Living Deb Frecklington said Queenslanders were paying the price for Labor’s failures every day.
“In the last year, Queensland has copped the worst increase in power prices, as a result of Labor’s chaos and crisis,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Queensland’s Cost of Living Crisis has not happened by accident, this is the result of Labor’s systemic government failures.
“Never before have Queenslanders faced such major impacts to the hip pocket, threatening their way of life.
“Labor’s failure to maintain and restore the Callide power plant has driven up power prices.
“Callide has now been out for more than 2.5 years and every time Queenslanders switch on the lights, they’re paying more.”
Ms Frecklington said it was clear Labor had the wrong priorities and their chaos and crisis had caused the Queensland Cost of Living Crisis.
“Queenslanders deserve a government that’s focused on driving-down cost of living, not running up costs for families,” she said.
“Labor’s failure to properly plan and resource the health system over the past decade has driven up health costs more than anywhere else in the country.
“Labor’s failure to maintain our road and rail network has driven-up transport costs, delivering Queenslanders skyrocketing transport bills, with huge flow-on impacts.
“Only the LNP has the Right Priorities for Queensland’s Future, including saving you paying for Labor’s failures.
“The LNP will prioritise structural cost of living relief for Queenslanders while still delivering the services Queenslanders need and expect.”
The CPI figures also reveal, across 2023, Queensland recorded:
- 6.7% increase in health costs, the highest in the nation.
- 4.2% increase in transport costs, the highest in the nation.
- 8.4% increase in rent costs
- 18.5% increase in insurance costs
- 7.4% increase in sports participation costs
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