Weatherill must support energy affordability taskforce

Posted on January 5, 2012

Leader of the Opposition Isobel Redmond has called on Premier Weatherill to support UnitingCare Wesley’s calls for the establishment of an energy affordability taskforce.

Today, UnitingCare Wesley asked Premier Weatherill to create a taskforce involving power retailers and welfare groups to help South Australians pay their ever-increasing utility bills.

According to figures from the Essential Services Commission, power disconnections more than doubled in the last financial year.

“After almost a decade of this Labor Government, South Australians are struggling with the burden of increasing cost of living pressures,” Ms Redmond said.

“Since Labor came into power in 2002, electricity prices have risen by 95 per cent, while water prices will have increased by 334 per cent from 2002 to 2013-14.

“South Australians are suffering because of Labor’s poor economic management – we already have the highest taxes, the worst unemployment rate and the worst business confidence in the nation.

“Premier Weatherill should be supporting any action that can help ease the burden of cost of living pressures on South Australian families and pensioners, as more and more households struggle to pay their bills.

“Sadly, with the Mid-Year Budget Review revealing that the State’s debt will increase to over $11 billion, South Australians can expect that cost of living pressures will only continue to increase under this Labor Government in the future.

“The establishment of an energy affordability taskforce is especially necessary given the impact on electricity prices from the Carbon Tax which will come into effect this year.

“Mr Weatherill doesn’t seem to care about cost of living pressures on South Australians, having locked in his support for Labor’s unpopular Carbon Tax in Parliament in November last year.”