Media Release

KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has warned that Queensland is at risk of widespread power blackouts thanks to the corporatisation of essential services, following the worst non-severe storm related emergency power outage in Far North Qld in memory.

Residents of Charters Towers, Pentland, Sellheim, Balfes Creek and surrounding areas were today hoping to see an end to several days of rolling blackouts while they waited for generators to replace an ageing massive transformer that failed, also putting at risk the Charters Towers water supply.

“This would have to be the worst non-emergency power outage I’ve seen in almost 40 years as a member of Parliament,” said Mr Katter, who served as a former Qld Government energy minister some two decades ago, before the State’s electricity industry was privatised.

“That transformer should have been maintained or replaced ages ago, but with the cost-cutting and price-gouging under what is effectively a monopoly, that has not happened.

“Essential services are not there for the enrichment of the cronies of the ALP-LNP ‘corporations’ – they’re there to provide essential services!”

Ergon Energy told residents to reduce non-essential power use after implementing emergency blackouts during times of peak demand to lessen the burden on the inferior infrastructure.

“So people in Charters Towers have to go to work after cold showers at 7am – try that on for size,” Mr Katter warned.

“And what you see in Charters Towers will be repeated all over Queensland under a government even more determined to gouge out even more money from the consumer through the corporatisation of essential services… and the downside is, the lights go out.”