QUEENSLAND families are facing the worst cost-of-living pressures in the country, with new Australian Bureau of Statistics data revealing Queenslanders suffered the largest cost increases of any state in the past three months.

Shocking ABS data for the first quarter of 2023 reveals under the Palaszczuk Labor Government Queenslanders are enduring far steeper cost increases.

In the first three months of this year, Queenslanders copped the biggest cost rises in the country with a:

• 32% increase in electricity bills;
• 3.4% increase in housing costs; and
• 5.4% increase in healthcare costs.

These increases far exceed any other cost increases, in any State or Territory.

Additional analysis of cost-of-living pressures released by the LNP today reveals Queenslanders have consistently paid more for government fees and services under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

Queensland families are paying on average $300 more for their electricity bills, despite the Palaszczuk Labor Government promising 150 times in the past six months they would make household power bills cheaper.

The new cost-of-living analysis also reveals:

• Wholesale power prices up 162% in just one year (2021-2022)
• SEQ water costs up 45% since 2015
• Car and boat registration costs up 28% since 2015
• Car licence fees up 25% since 2015

Shadow Treasurer David Janetzki said the numbers and the new ABS figures proved cost-of-living pressures on Queenslanders were worse under the chaotic Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“Queenslanders are deciding whether they eat or pay the next bill and meanwhile the Palaszczuk Labor Government hasn’t listened, let alone done anything to ease the cost-of-living crisis,” Mr Janetzki said.

“Because the Palaszczuk Government is so distracted by their own chaos and crisis they haven’t tuned in to the everyday struggles Queensland families and businesses are facing.

“Cost-of-living is worse in Queensland than anywhere else because the Palaszczuk Labor Government negligently wastes taxpayers’ money instead of using it to ease cost of living pressures.

“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.

“For our great State to be the worst for cost-of-living pressure is a damning indictment on how the Palaszczuk Labor Government is running Queensland.”

Shadow Minister for Energy Pat Weir said the Palaszczuk Labor Government had questions to answer over its mismanagement of electricity assets.

“Queenslanders are now paying a high price for the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s failure to manage and maintain power plants include Callide, to see a 32% jump in electricity costs in just three months is unheard of,” Mr Weir said.

“Even the Auditor-General exposed the truth that ‘a lack of supply, from unplanned maintenance in power plants like Callide, is a primary factor in driving up electricity prices’.

“Queensland was the only State with a double-digit increase in power prices this year and Queenslanders are paying those high prices.

“Queenslanders deserve a government who actually cares about the cost-of-living pressures on families.”