Isolated public owned generation assets

Eligibility - Queensland citizens
Principal Petitioner:
Terry O'Shane
60-62 Robb Road
REDLYNCH QLD 4870
Total Signatures - 671
Sponsoring Member: Curtis Pitt MP
Posting Date: 24/7/2013
Closing Date: 28/10/2013
Tabled Date: 29/10/2013
Responded By: Hon Mark McArdle MP on 26/11/2013
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House our deep concerns about the proposed privatisation of Ergon Energy's isolated generation assets and the outsourcing of more than 160 energy jobs, Recommendation 29 of the Independent Review Panel's final report. We believe the decision by the State Government to push ahead with the privatisation of 33 state-owned regional and remote powerstations is irresponsible and a gross betrayal of trust.


Recommendation 29
The Government call for expressions of interest from the private sector to operate and maintain the isolated supply assets in Queensland as an IPP. 

 

We oppose the recommendation on three main points:

• Taking jobs out of these communities will affect the economies, the viability of schools, the value of properties and the future of affected communities.
• These towns rely heavily on their electricity workers, they are a vital part of these communities, and they provide a service that is efficient, timely and in times of natural disaster, a comfort to the most vulnerable.
• We believe that if this proposal goes ahead it will have a massive impact on the cost, reliability and safety of the power supply to already socially isolated and deprived remote communities.


Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to reject the proposal and stand up for regional and remote Queensland communities.