Whole state to get $1000 boost
Queenslanders will get a $1000 energy bill rebate, paid for by coal royalties.
Premier Steven Miles and Treasurer Cameron Dick announced the $2.5bn payment on Thursday.
The upfront, per-household cash splash will be applied from July 1, and the Premier says it means people won’t pay a cent for electricity for the first three months of the financial year.
“We are delivering the biggest cost-of-living relief package in Queensland history to back Queenslanders in the fight against inflation,” Mr Miles said.
The Queensland government paid a $550 power bill rebate this financial year, plus $325 off bills for small businesses.
Under Thursday’s announcement, eligible seniors, pensioners and concession card holders will receive $1372 off their power bills.
Inflation, rising mortgage repayments, rent and groceries were Queenslanders’ biggest concern, the Premier said.
A $1000 payment would halve most household’s yearly power bill, he said.
“I said we would use the budget to deliver cost-of-living relief, but I’ve decided it’s too urgent to wait that long,” Mr Miles said.
Last year, the Queensland government posted a $14bn surplus on the back of a coal royalty scheme that left miners threatening to leave the state.
The Treasurer said the $2.5bn power bill payment came from miners paying what they should.
“Our investment back into the people of this state is only possible because the Miles Labor government is collecting Queensland’s fair share of coal royalties from multinational mining companies,” Mr Dick said.
A state election looms in October. Last month, Mr Dick revealed total government debt was due to hit $188bn by 2027/28, according to preliminary Treasury forecasts.
The Treasurer foreshadowed the election could not be an “unsustainable spending spree”.
A special appropriation Bill will be introduced to bring forward the $1000 payment.
