The Palaszczuk Labor Government has sunk to a new low with the Committee Chair and Labor Member for Kallangur protecting the Energy Minister from being questioned about electricity price increases at today’s Estimates hearing.
Despite numerous attempts by the Opposition to ask Minister Mark Bailey about the real possibility of increased electricity bills, Labor Chair Shane King ruled the questions out of order.
Shadow Minister for Energy and Water Supply Andrew Powell said it was another example of the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s protection racket.
“There is a genuine concern amongst Queenslanders that electricity prices are going to increase under this government and yet I was blocked from asking any questions about it,” Mr Powell said.
“Minister Mark Bailey has a duty to level with Queenslanders and explain the reasons why the electricity bills of Queensland consumers could rise.
“What we saw today was a Labor Government desperately trying to avoid scrutiny. As a result, Queenslanders have been left in the dark.”
Mr Powell said it had become clear that Labor had promised one thing before the election and then after coming into power had done another.
“Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was elected on a platform of ‘integrity and accountability’ but we saw no evidence of this today,” he said.
“In eight days of Estimates Hearings, all we’ve seen is a protection racket in full flight - the bungling Police Minister gets to keep her job, the Energy Minister doesn’t have to answer questions and the Premier avoids the mess by going on a holiday.
“It has become quite clear that Annastacia Palaszczuk said and did anything to get elected and cannot be trusted to run a competent government.
“Queenslanders didn’t vote for this.”
