Labor Exposed as Uncaring and Out-of-Touch
The Tasmanian Greens today attempted to get an independent review into the Water and Sewerage future price rises but their move was voted down by the Bartlett Labor government, despite the growing disquiet about the huge increase in fees that the changes are inflicting upon Tasmanians, especially those on low incomes.
Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP, who also sought to ensure that any proposals that seek to charge tenants anything other than the water consumption charge were abandoned, said that Labor is turning a deaf ear to many in the community who are doing it hard due to the spiralling costs in living.
“By blocking the Greens’ move for an immediate review into the new Water and Sewerage pricing system, and refusing to commit to tenants only being charged the water consumption costs, Labor has revealed just how out of touch, and uncaring, they are,” Mr Morris said.
“Many Tasmanians are doing it hard, and under Labor’s water and sewerage changes they are just going to do it even harder, with a 10% price hike this year, another 10% hike next year, and a further 10% the following year.”
“It is clear that the increase in the cost of living already incurred by Tasmanians with the increase in MAIB premiums, public transport fees, and power prices, is set to spiral under Labor.”
“The Bartlett Government must take a fresh look at the proposed radical price increases as part of the required review of the Interim Price Order which will be undertaken this year because of the shocking increases many people have already received. If this is not addressed now, people will receive a further 10% increase for each of the next two years.”
Mr Morris also said that it was gobsmacking that apparently neither the Minister for Water, nor the Treasurer had sought any funding from the Australian Government to assist with upgrading Tasmania’s water supplies and sewerage systems, a failure which has now left consumers to bear the full cost.
Text of the Greens’ Motion, supported by the Liberals but voted down by Labor:
That this House notes condemns the Bartlett Government’s for it failure to deliver Water and Sewerage reform that provides any of the promised benefits and has led to several perverse outcomes affecting Tasmanians, as well as yet unresolved problems including;
1. Price increases of 10% for almost all customers with a further 10% in each of the next 2 years which is especially harsh on persons on low and fixed incomes;
2. That it is currently proposed by the Government to shift the obligation for payment from owners to occupiers without compensation for renters;
3. That many pensioner tenants of Caravan Parks cannot access concessions;
4. That the Regulations to set the concession at $130 for 2009/10 have not yet been laid upon the Parliament table;
5. That the salary paid to the Chairman of the Corporations is way out of line with community expectations; and
Calls on the Government to review the proposed future price rises and to abandon any proposals that seek to charge tenants anything other than the water consumption charge.
Tim Morris MP Greens Water Spokesperson
