· Pensioners given six months to pay a full year’s water and sewerage charges
· Half the bill must be paid between now and Christmas and exorbitant interest rates on overdue accounts apply
· Labor so out of touch they refuse to review their bungled water and sewerage changes
Pensioners have been given six months to pay a full year’s worth of water and sewerage charges – or be slugged for overdue accounts on a daily basis at the rate of 12.2% per annum. Half of the annual bill must be paid between November 1 and December 15 – ten days before Christmas.
This unreasonable bill payment plan is adding to the pain of the government’s bungled water and sewerage changes – but there was zero concern from the government about this in Parliament today.
Glenorchy ratepayers are the latest to start receiving their water and sewerage bills – and one pensioner has been hit with a $777 charge, with $388 due by December 15.
Pensioners do not have $400 sitting around, especially at this time of year in the lead-up to Christmas.
Labor is so out of touch they think there is no problem.
These changes have to be reviewed. They are inflicting incredible pain on Tasmanians, who do not believe they are currently in anything like the economic renaissance the Premier boasts of.
And the bill payment options, especially for pensioners, must be examined. It is totally unreasonable for them to be expected to pay a full year’s charges in six months; and half a year’s charges between now and Christmas.
Will Hodgman MP Leader of the Opposition
