Government to claw back water and sewerage pensioner concession

· Regulations tabled last week reveal pensioners water and sewerage concession to be watered down over time

When sewerage and water costs go to full cost recovery, pensioner concessions won’t follow
If Premier was serious about social inclusion, he would review the impact of his water and sewerage changes on our most vulnerable

If David Bartlett was serious about social inclusion, he would immediately review the impact of his water and sewerage changes on our most vulnerable.

Many pensioners have been slugged with $400-plus pre-Christmas water and sewerage bills, now we find that the Premier’s much-lauded pensioner concessions will be clawed back at a time when the price rises are likely to be the greatest.

Part 6 the Water and Sewerage Industry (Community Service Obligation) Regulations 2009, tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, confirm that the pensioner concession will increase by 10 percent for the next two financial years in line with the mandated water and sewerage charge increases.

However, according to part 6 1c) of the regulations, in 2012-13 and thereafter, when the water and sewerage corporations move to full cost recovery of price rises of 100 percent or more, the pensioner discount will only rise by the CPI.

In other words, when the cost increases are the greatest, the pensioner concession won’t keep up.

As long as the Premier persists on hitting our most vulnerable with his bungled water and sewerage changes, his promises on social inclusion mean nothing.

The relevant page of the regulation is attached.
Water and Sewerage regs.pdf
Will Hodgman MP Leader of the State Opposition