Premier flags cost-of-living focus in Queensland budget
Nick Gibbs |
Cost-of-living relief including a larger rebate to offset the rising cost of electricity has been flagged for Queensland’s state budget.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed there will be an increase in the existing $175 energy rebate as the state opposition claims Queenslanders are consistently paying more.
“We’ve said we’re going to do more than $175 in the budget, but there’ll be even more additional measures,” the premier told reporters on Thursday.
“There is $6 billion worth of concessions there already, there will be more concessions, there’ll be more cost-of-living measures, in this budget.”
The Liberal National opposition cited recent consumer price index figures that show increases for electricity, housing and healthcare.
Brisbane recorded the largest rise out of all the capital cities for the March quarter, ABS data shows.
“Health, housing and electricity are critical government services Queenslanders rely on, and now we know Queenslanders are facing the worst cost pressures thanks to the chaos and crisis of the Palaszczuk Labor government,” treasury spokesman David Janetzki said.
“Queenslanders are deciding whether they eat or pay the next bill.”
Ms Palaszczuk said cost of living pressures were affecting people across the country.
“It’s not just happening in Queensland, it’s happening in NSW, it’s happening in Victoria,” she said.
AAP
