Shadow Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong, David Harris, has hit back at a claim by the Liberal-National Party that there would be no relief on energy prices for half of the households in the state for the next seven years if Labor wins the March 25 election.
The LNP said that Labor’s plan to dump the Government’s $250 rebate scheme, and only give it to some households who are already eligible for the Energy Bill Buster Program, would see many miss out.
“A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will provide every household in NSW with $250 off their energy bills from July 1 simply for looking for a better deal that can help unlock further savings of up to $400 off their bills,” the LNP said.
“The Labor plan will see around 1.5 million households get nothing.
“As part of the agreement with the Albanese Government to impose a coal cap in NSW, the Commonwealth agreed to match NSW’s energy rebates.
“The rebates to match NSW’s could be up to $535 per person from the Commonwealth depending on what rebates they are eligible for.
“The Albanese Government also agreed that a portion of the promised bill relief would support small businesses.
“The NSW Liberal and Nationals will ensure NSW small businesses get their fair share.”
However, Harris said the NSW Government has botched its Energy Policy over the past 12 years, resulting in higher prices and privatisation of essential assets.
“Labor has announced a plan to provide relief in the short term but also get prices back under control in the longer term,” he said.
“Labor’s $485M Energy Relief Fund will help lower power bills and fight inflation.
“Small businesses across the state are struggling under rising electricity costs.
“If they close down, people lose their jobs, their livelihoods and their ability to make ends meet.
“That’s why under Labor, eligible NSW small businesses will receive $315 directly off their energy bill.”
Harris said Labor’s Energy Relief Fund would mean NSW households who were hit hardest by rising electricity prices would receive $250 directly off their energy bill.
The rebate will apply to households receiving income support, pensioners and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders and Family Tax Benefit recipients.
“Labor’s plan will deliver effective, targeted energy bill relief to those who need it most without onerous application processes or the requirement to apply or look elsewhere – under Labor, it’s automatically applied to bills,” Harris said.
“A Minns Labor Government will help ease the cost of rising electricity bills for 320,000 eligible small businesses and 1.6 million eligible NSW families and households.
“When matched with $250 from the Commonwealth Government’s Energy Bill Relief Fund, around 1.6 million eligible households will get $500 off their electricity bills.”
He said a Labor government would set up a NSW Energy Security Corporation to accelerate investment in renewables and keep the lights on.
“Under the Government’s poor energy policy Central Coast Ausgrid customers pay over $100 a year more than they should,” he said.
“Meanwhile, prices are up 40 percent since 2015 despite the NSW Liberals promising prices would go down.”
Terry Collins