9/9/2009

Tweed pensioners now struggling with Labor's energy price hikes

“…People didn't realise the impact until the bills started coming in…”

As Tweed residents get their first power bills since the State Government jacked up electricity prices by 21 per cent on July 1, more and more are struggling according to phone complaints to Tweed Nationals MP Geoff Provest's office.

“People didn't realise the impact until the bills started coming in,” Mr Provest said.

“The problem is also that they were hit with a double whammy on July 1: an extra $200 on the average annual power bill and an extra 8.3 cents per litre on petrol as the Rees Government abolished our fuel subsidy.”

“This isn't good for Tweed small businesses and jobs either, because every extra dollar that goes into the Sydney Labor black hole is a dollar less that stays in our local economy,” Mr Provest said.

“People don't just contact my office for nothing, and I can say the phones have been ringing off the hook in the past few days, and most of the calls are about electricity bills.”

“Struggling pensioners are paying $4 extra per week, but the State Government compensation package for them is worth just $18 a year,” Mr Provest concluded.