Queensland's cotton industry hails electricity tariff cap

Cotton Australia’s Queensland Policy Manager, Michael Murray, says the limit will partly counteract last week’s announcement by the Queensland Competition Authority, which issued a determination for an electricity price increase of 20% for most irrigators.

“Queensland’s cotton industry welcomes the Government’s move to slow the alarming pace of electricity price hikes for irrigators in the state,” Mr Murray says.

“While irrigators will find a 10% increase still an unacceptably high impost, we acknowledge the Queensland Government faces tremendous challenges to reign in debt and restore the state’s credit rating.”

“We appreciate the efforts of Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – John McVeigh – and Minister for Energy and Water Supply – Mark McArdle – for going into bat on behalf of cotton growers and other irrigators.”

“The Queensland Government faces significant hurdles to in order to refresh the state’s electricity infrastructure system.”

“Cotton Australia looks forward to working with the Government to implement needed long-term structural reforms to the state’s electricity network that were flagged in today’s Budget.”

Cotton Australia is the peak representative body for Australia’s cotton growing industry.

Cotton Australia