Milton Dick (Oxley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I understand by his interjections, which I will continue to take, that he supports the current opposition's plan to privatise assets in Queensland. He's not denying that. I understand that because I have lived that experience. I have seen, just as the member for Herbert has seen, his party was annihilated. You, Deputy Speaker McVeigh, were a former minister in that failed government when you were rejected by the Queensland population, not on one occasion but on two occasions, because of its ideological commitment to selling assets, cutting public servants and then sacking people as well. Cut, sack, sell—that is in the LNP DNA in Queensland. So, through his continual interjections, I realise the member for Herbert's fervent commitment to privatisation of Queensland public assets. We, on this side of the chamber and Queensland Labor members fight every single day against what the LNP want in Queensland. So let me highlight for the member for Herbert's asset that the Queensland state Labor government have achieved savings for Queenslanders because we own energy assets—the generation, the poles and the wires. Now listening to the debate tonight, the member for Herbert would want to sell those assets and his party would want to sell if they ever had the misfortune of returning to government under a failed leadership experiment, a toxic experiment led by the LNP in Queensland.

Mr Thompson interjecting—

That's right! I will take the member's interjection. It didn't last long. The largest swing in Australian history to deliver the LNP state government was then the largest swing ever recorded against any government in the Southern Hemisphere to be rejected by the Queensland people.

These funds have also been reinvested across the electricity supply chain from generation, transmission and distribution to improve, maintain and deliver reliable power. More than $226.3 million was also invested into capital projects at Stanwell and CS Energy to keep generation assets running safely, reliably and efficiently. And another $210 million has been invested in polls and wires—the same poles and wires that the member for Herbert's party wanted to sell—in Queensland.

Mr Thompson interjecting—

Well, he's denying a fact in reality. And we know under his party, under the LNP in Queensland, power prices went up 43 per cent as they planned to sell Ergon and Energex. That was their plan; we know that. And their so-called regional competition policy would add $400 to every regional power bill or cost taxpayers another $700 million. He may think that's sensible economic policy. He may think that's sensible for regional Queensland. The hardworking members in his electorate will fight him every step of the way.

It's black and white when it comes to the difference between this side of the chamber and Labor governments. On one hand you will continue to see this side of the chamber fight for fair and reliable energy prices. On that side of the chamber we will see increased power prices and, sadly, privatisation.

Debate interrupted.

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