Energy and Water Ombudsman Amendment Bill 2015

Introduced and defended the bill as delivering on the government's commitment to support small business by extending EWOQ access to high energy-using businesses consuming up to 160 megawatt hours, enabling EWOQ to handle credit-reporting disputes, and increasing billing transparency.

“This bill will also ensure that high energy-using small businesses are on a level playing field and enjoy the same access to an energy specific dispute resolution service as other small businesses.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Spoke for the LNP opposition, confirming they would not oppose the bill. Noted the review originated under the previous LNP government's energy minister and that the bill implements the QCA's preferred option for extending EWOQ access to high energy-using small businesses.

“The minister may be relieved to know that the LNP will not be opposing this bill.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Spoke as committee chair, noting the committee unanimously recommended the bill be passed with one minor amendment and that approximately 5,100 additional businesses would gain access to EWOQ.

“The Utilities, Science and Innovation Committee held departmental briefings and a public hearing. We have unanimously agreed that the bill be passed with one minor amendment.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Supported the bill as a committee member, welcoming the extension of dispute resolution services to small retailers in his electorate and the updating of privacy constraints to help resolve consumer complaints.

“I am all for standing up for the underdog, and in a David versus Goliath battle you will never see me on the side of the giant.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Supported the bill and the minister's amendments, noting the benefits for small businesses and community organisations such as surf clubs and junior sporting clubs with high electricity consumption.

“This is essentially an amendment that is about helping small business, and that is why I am particularly keen to speak in support of the bill and that is why we are supporting these amendments.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Supported the bill, highlighting that 5,100 small businesses would gain access to EWOQ and explaining how the amendments improve fairness for both energy customers and service providers through billing reconciliation.

“I think the statistic we need to focus on is that it brings 5,100 small businesses in Queensland into the fold of the Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Supported the bill, noting it would help small businesses such as bakeries, dairy farmers and community sports clubs that are high energy users but lack the resources to manage electricity disputes.

“Queensland's small business enterprises are recognised by the government as a significant contributor to the state's economic and jobs growth and are the backbone to regional economies.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Supported the bill as a committee member, noting the review originated under the previous LNP government and emphasising that small business makes up 97 per cent of all businesses in Queensland.

“I am entirely supportive of any moves that will provide further assistance to small businesses. Small business makes up 97 per cent of all businesses in Queensland.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Briefly supported the bill as a practical example of the government supporting small business, noting that an additional 5,100 businesses would be able to access the dispute resolution service.

“By providing high energy-using small business customers, including not-for-profit organisations, with access to a free and independent energy-specific dispute resolution service we are giving these organisations more freedom to do what they do best.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Supported the bill as delivering on the government's policy of supporting small business, noting that high energy-using businesses often struggle to negotiate on an equal footing with their retailer.

“It delivers an inherent consumer rights advantage by allowing high energy-using small businesses to access an independent, free and fair dispute resolution mechanism for assistance with their energy disputes.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Supported the bill, recounting the history of the Energy Ombudsman from its 2007 establishment and a specific case of a small business that benefited from the ombudsman's intervention, crediting the LNP for initiating the policy review.

“It was a great idea when it was promoted by Mark McArdle, the member for Caloundra, in March 2014, it was a good idea when it went through the regulatory impact statement that was initiated by our government shortly afterwards and it is still a good idea.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Supported the bill as helping the 'little guys', citing high energy-using sporting clubs and aged-care facilities in her electorate that would benefit from access to the ombudsman's dispute resolution service.

“I see this as a bill for the little guys, as it extends access to EWOQ to small business customers using between 100 and 160 megawatt hours of electricity per year.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Supported the bill, citing a bakery in his electorate whose electricity bill rose from $900 to $2,000 per month and which had no avenue for dispute resolution under the existing threshold.

“The Palaszczuk government has given small business a voice through this EWOQ bill.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard

Supported the bill as giving small business a fair go and a level playing field, noting that extending EWOQ access would allow small businesses to focus on job creation rather than energy disputes.

“This bill gives small business a fair go and a level playing field. All they want from government is to be understood.”— 2015-11-10View Hansard