And Reduce 12.5% Penalty Rate for Late Payment
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today called on Treasurer Michael Aird to immediately put in place a system by which Tasmanians can pay their new water and sewerage bills fortnightly, following constituent complaints that there is no such facility, and that they only have months to pay the annual charge or face a 12.5% penalty rate.
Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP said a number of Councils had allowed for fortnightly direct debit payment of rates, and it is grossly unfair to now demand that these new water and sewerage bills be paid in lump sums, especially given that the bills are being sent out late, and that the annual charge is being demanded after a shorter grace period.
Mr Morris also said that this problem is nothing to do with the new Water and Sewerage Corporations, it is yet another symptom of Treasurer Michael Aird rushing the water and sewerage reforms without adequate consultation, and thereby penalising those on limited incomes who must budget carefully but who cannot do so with these bills due to the Treasurer’s indecent haste.
“My office is being inundated with complaints from pensioners and other low income earners who cannot believe that they must pay these annual bills in four lump-sums over a six month period, without any option for a fortnightly direct debit,” said Mr Morris.
“This is grossly unfair for those who least afford to pay, and the Treasurer must step in and implement a fortnightly direct debit facility to assist people in paying their bills without attracting the whopping 12.5% penalty rate that is attached.”
“The 12.5% penalty rate for failing to pay on time is especially unfair, and will come as a huge shock to many people who were not warned by the Treasurer about this penalty when he pushed through these reforms. After failing to warn Tasmanians, the Treasurer should also consider reducing the 12.5% penalty, for this year at least.”
“Despite having spent $90,000 on propaganda about these reforms, the Treasurer has failed to inform people about the penalty rate, or provide sensible, appropriate payment options. He should also have advised pensioners and low income earners in July of the need to begin putting money aside on a regular basis because the new water and sewerage bills were going to be sent out late.”
“In his haste the Treasurer is harming those who can least afford to pay, and throwing out the very carefully planned budgets of all those people who try hard to plan ahead with their bills by paying them via fortnightly direct debits.”
“The Greens are calling on Treasurer Michael Aird to show some heart and implement a fortnightly direct debit system for these new water and sewerage charges, as well as reducing the excessive 12.5% penalty rate for failure to pay on time,” said Mr Morris.
The Greens are aware that Centrelink offers a fortnightly payment system for bills such as these, however this system is not available to all low income earners, and is unsatisfactory to many others.
Tim Morris MP Greens Water Spokesperson
