Media Release

Will Hodgman MP
Leader of the Opposition
Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Treasurer

Thursday 17th December 2009

Libs to freeze water and sewerage bills while we fix Labor’s bungle

The price of water and sewerage bills will be frozen for one year at current levels while the Tasmanian Liberals fix Labor’s water and sewerage bungle should a Hodgman Liberal Government be elected on March 20 next year.

In addition, under the Liberal policy, moving forward, prices will rise at no more than five percent per annum for the first four year term of a Hodgman Liberal Government.

This means that under the Liberals, a typical household with a $600 bill this year will save at least $233 compared to Labor’s policy.

Leader of the Opposition, Will Hodgman, said:

“Labor has bungled their water and sewerage changes and now are expecting ordinary Tasmanians to pay for it.

“The politically expedient changes they announced last month do nothing to address the longer-term 100 percent-plus price rises for water and sewerage bills in some areas.

“The Liberals will fix Labor’s water and sewerage bungle, and we won’t make you pay through the nose while we do so.”

Shadow Treasurer, Peter Gutwein, said:

“The Liberals supported reforming and water and sewerage system but we did not support the massive price rises Labor is slugging Tasmanians with.

“It should never be forgotten that Labor kept secret a report which revealed that prices could rise by more than 100 percent in some areas, and an average of 63 percent across the State, in the next five to seven years.

“If we had known this, we would never have supported the changes.”

EXAMPLE:

Ratepayer Joe Bloggs’ water and sewerage bill under Labor and Liberal policies

	09/10	10/11	11/12	12/13*	13/14*
Labor Policy	$600	$630	$661.50	$727.65	$800.41
Liberal Policy	$600	$600	$630	$661.50	$694.57
$ Better off under Liberals	0	+$30	+$31.50	+$66.15	+$105.84

*Assumes minimum 10 percent price increase under Labor’s full cost recovery policy.