Low Income Earners to be Hit Hard
The Tasmanian Greens today released a new water and sewerage bill from the new Southern Water Corporation and raised concerns about the large number of recent rises in cost-of-living expenses for Tasmanians after 11 years of hard Labor.
Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP said people living in properties with a higher Annual Assessed Value (AAV) and who live on fixed or low incomes are going to be hit particularly hard by these new water and sewerage bills, which are coming on top of a large hike in the price of electricity, and an increased MAIB surcharge.
Mr Morris also pointed out that people living in municipalities with water meters will be hit with another bill for an as yet unknown amount for their water consumption, and called on the Acting Treasurer and Water Minister David Llewellyn to publicly reveal the rate that this new water consumption charge will be set at.
“The increasing spike in living costs under Labor will be highlighted by these new water and sewerage bills appearing in people’s letterboxes,” said Mr Morris.
“Tasmanians are now paying the price for 11 years of hard Labor, with fees, charges and rates all rising while the Bartlett Government continues to waste scarce taxpayer funds on a ridiculous priorities like a private pulp mill project, a divisive new Tarkine road, overseas junkets, racetracks, and an army of spin doctors and media minders.”
“Tasmanians on low or fixed incomes who are living in homes with a high AAV are going to be shocked when they receive their new water and sewerage bill, and when that happens I hope they remember all the money that has been wasted on mates’ projects by this Labor State Government instead of being invested into essential infrastructure.”
“Those living in municipalities with water meters are also facing a water consumption charge of unknown proportions, and I am calling on the Acting Treasurer to publicly reveal the rate that the new consumption charge will be set at, so people have time to prepare for that expense,” said Mr Morris.
Attached: Copy of water and sewerage bill from Southern Water received this week by a Brighton Council resident.
Tim Morris MP Greens Water Spokesperson
