Government to Compete Against Itself in Public Power Pledge

The Queensland government has pledged to establish a public electricity retailer to lower petrol prices if re-elected in October, just two months after it announced plans to open several government-owned fuel stations across the state. The move would mean the state would effectively be competing against itself with Ergon—a government-owned corporation. Labor says the proposed company would run solely as a retailer without any of the infrastructure dealt with by Ergon, and would utilise existing state-owned poles and wires with no need to generate profits for shareholders. Queensland Premier Steven Miles said the move would increase competition in the industry....