Millions of Aussies to get $1,000 handout for their energy bills - here's who is eligible
- Queenslanders to receive $1,000 energy bill rebate
- Paid for by royalties from the coal industry
- READ MORE: The one group of Aussies cruising through the cost of living crisis
Queenslanders will get a $1,000 rebate on their energy bills, with Premier Steven Miles and Treasurer Cameron Dick announcing the state government would spend $2.5 billion on the popular measure.
The upfront, per-household cash splash will be applied from July 1, and the Premier says it means the government will foot the bill for electricity for the first three months of the financial year.
'We are delivering the biggest cost-of-living relief package in Queensland history to back Queenslanders in the fight against inflation,' Mr Miles said.
While the measure will ease bills for households and small businesses in the short term, economists have argued such rebates only reduce the pressure on electricity retailers to cut their prices.
The Queensland government paid a $550 power bill rebate this financial year, plus $325 off bills for small businesses, and the federal government introduced electricity price rebates in 2023, and that had seen prices to continue to climb.
Queenslanders will get a $1,000 energy bill rebate, paid for by coal royalties (stock image)
The upfront, per-household cash splash will be applied from July 1, and the Premier says it means people won't pay a cent for electricity for the first three months of the financial year (stock image)
Under Thursday's Queensland announcement, eligible seniors, pensioners and concession card holders will receive $1372 off their power bills.
Inflation, rising mortgage repayments, rent and groceries were Queenslanders' biggest concern, the Premier said.
A $1000 payment would halve most household's yearly power bill, he said.
'I said we would use the budget to deliver cost-of-living relief, but I've decided it's too urgent to wait that long,' Mr Miles said.
Last year, the Queensland government posted a $14bn surplus on the back of a coal royalty scheme that left miners threatening to leave the state.
The Treasurer said the $2.5bn power bill payment came out of that surplus.
'Our investment back into the people of this state is only possible because the Miles Labor government is collecting Queensland's fair share of coal royalties from multinational mining companies,' Mr Dick said.
State Premier Steven Miles (pictured) said homeowners won't have to pay a pay a cent for electricity for the first three months of the financial year
The measure comes shortly before the start of campaigning for the state election which is expected in October, with polls indicating Labor is in trouble.
looms in October. Last month, Mr Dick revealed total government debt was due to hit $188bn by 2027/28, according to preliminary Treasury forecasts.
However the Treasurer foreshadowed the election could not be an 'unsustainable spending spree', given the state's total debt was forecast to hit $188 billion by 2027/28.
A special appropriation Bill will be introduced to bring forward the $1000 payment.
