Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Treasurer

Wednesday 21st July 2010

Pensioners to be Hit Hard by Water and Sewerage Increases

The Government's cynical pre-election decision to pay pensioners a one off $130 concession last year on their water and sewer age bills as well as paying the full concession rate of $374 off their council rates will mean that pensioners will be hit hard this year.

Water and sewerage rates have gone up by 5% and council rates are also rising in most cases by around 5%. However, this year, pensioners will receive around $130 less than they did last year.

Now that the election has passed, pensioners will have to cop the increases whilst having to manage with $130 less than they received last year as a concession.

I said at the time that this was a cynical election ploy that would ultimately cause hardship for many customers and now unfortunately many pensioners are finding it hard to manage financially.

The water corporations and Councils need to be sympathetic to the plight of pensioners caught in this situation and provide whatever assistance they can.

Michael Aird's press release from last year can be accessed here:

www.media.tas.gov.au/print.php?id=27669