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Clinton Porteous and Melanie Christiansen

November 05, 2006

QUEENSLAND householders will face higher water and electricity charges due to the impact of drought and climate change, the Federal Government has warned.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman on water, Malcolm Turnbull, said water would become more expensive as Australia’s climate becomes hotter and drier.

Mr Macfarlane told The Courier-Mail that electricity, which currently costs $35 a megawatt hour to produce, would go up “$15 to $20”.

While power costs are set to rise, Mr Turnbull said water prices would increase with greater reliance on recycling and desalination.

“In Brisbane, you have one of the most important, fastest growing cities in Australia that could run out of water – is that a failure of planning or what?” he said.

“Peter Beattie is playing catch-up.”