Review of Qld power tariff reforms begins

Electricity reforms in Queensland will be phased in from 2014, the state's energy minister says. Source: AAP

ERGON Energy has begun a review of electricity pricing in Queensland, with tariff reforms due to be phased in from 2014.

Earlier this year the government proposed scrapping uniform tariffs to entice greater competition and merge government-owned retailers Energex and Ergon.

It's hoped the merging would save $580 million over seven years and reduce duplication of infrastructure.

Queensland Energy Minister Mark McArdle announced on Saturday that Ergon Energy had begun a review of power tariffs.

Restructured tariffs will commence in 2014-15, with further tariff reforms to be brought in over the 2015-2020 period.

Mr McArdle also urged Queenslanders and interest groups to get involved with the review.

"It makes sense that we now need to reconsider these tariffs so they better reflect the needs of Queenslanders," he said.

He says reforms will give customers more options and encourage electricity use to off-peak times.

Representatives from Ergon Energy, Energex, the Queensland Competition Authority, Treasury and Mr McArdle's department will provide oversight of the tariff reforms.

The Greens have criticised the absence of a representative from the solar industry in the group.

"Solar is the elephant in the room in the energy debate," a spokesman said.

"They are not making room in the working group for this important new industry player."

Electricity prices will rise by about $260 a year for the average household from Monday under a ruling by the Queensland Competition Authority.

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UK PM makes unannounced Afghan visit

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, meeting troops in the southern province of Helmand as the NATO military coalition hands responsibility over to local forces.

The British embassy in Kabul confirmed Cameron's trip to Camp Bastion as Britain marked Armed Forces Day on Saturday.

Britain has about 7900 soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

Cameron visited troops on the front line as a senior British commander said talks with the Taliban should have been attempted a decade ago.

General Nick Carter, deputy commander of the NATO-led coalition, told The Guardian that it would have been more successful to approach the Taliban in 2002 after they were knocked from power.

Speaking in Lashkar Gah in Afghanistan, Cameron told Sky News: "I think you can argue about whether the settlement we put in place after 2001 could have been better arranged. Of course you can make that argument. Since I became prime minister in 2010 I have been pushing all the time for a political process and that political process is now under way.

"But at the same time I know that you cannot bank on that, which is why we have built up the Afghan army, built up the Afghan police, supported the Afghan government so after our troops have left, and they will be leaving under the program we have set out, this country shouldn't be a haven for terrorists."

The British prime minister told reporters: "We want a political solution as well as making sure we have a security solution. What we have done in Afghanistan is we came here to stop it being used as a base for terrorist activities. That has been and is successful.

"What we need to do is build up the Afghan armed forces and at the same time make sure that the politics of Afghanistan enable everyone in Afghanistan to play a role in the future of their country.

"We are making some progress there as well."

Cameron announced that funding from bankers' Libor fines would be used to create a permanent memorial to the 444 British personnel killed in Afghanistan.

He said: "I can announce today that we will be taking more money off the Libor fines and putting it in to military charities including building a permanent memorial at the Staffordshire Arboretum so that we can always remember and future generations can remember those that fell and died here in Afghanistan."

Cameron said the political process should mean "those people prepared to give up the bomb, the bullet, can actually be part of that process, part of that future Afghanistan".

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Crowds set to farewell Sydney monorail

Large crowds are expected for the monorail's final lap as Sydney says goodbye to the steel giant. Source: AAP

LARGE crowds are expected to head to Sydney's monorail on Sunday to witness the steel giant's last spin around town.

The Sydney character will take its final ride at 9.30pm on Sunday, after a quarter of a century trundling above people's heads.

Labelled as a "fad" and a "white elephant" by NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian on Friday, ticket sales have increased leading up to its farewell.

"In the last three weeks we've seen a 15 per cent increase in customers, compared to this time last year," a NSW Transport spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday.

"With the final weekend of monorail operations, along with school holidays, we're expecting very large crowds."

A single loop ticket will be available for those wanting to get a last look at the monorail.

All sales will go to five charities and a ballot will be drawn to select the final people riding the monorail.

Ticket sales will stop at 8.30pm with the final passenger loop to take place from 9.30pm for the ballot winners.

Workers will begin dismantling the monorail, with almost all of its 1500 tonnes of steel and 400 cubic metres of concrete to be recycled.

However, two monorail carriages and 10 metres of the track will be preserved in the Sydney's Powerhouse Museum in the short term.

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