Tasmanian
businesses are struggling with soaring power costs under a Liberal Government
that continues to provide no real relief.
For
businessowners such as Badri Awal, who runs the local favourite Soph Slice
Gourmet Pizza Bar in Moonah, power bills are one of many rising input costs
making running a business tough.
Badri’s power
bills have risen by 12 per cent this year and he is extremely concerned about
what further hikes from 1 July will mean for his business.
Tasmanian Labor
has a policy of capping power price increases at 2.5 per cent each year for the
next three years which would ensure that Tasmanian households and businesses
save significant amounts of money.
Households
would be better off under our policy by around $500 a year and businesses such
as Badri’s could save thousands of dollars.
Tasmanian Labor
introduced legislation twice during the parliamentary year to cap power prices
but each time the state Liberal Government voted against the legislation.
The State
Liberal party also took the policy of removing Tasmania from the National
Electricity Market to the 2018 election but have since abandoned that
commitment, breaking a key election promise.
Tasmanians
built the Hydro, and with our cheap, renewable energy, we should not be paying
the same power prices as mainland states.
This energy
crisis is not going away, and without meaningful action, it will likely get a
lot worse.
Only Labor’s plan for cheaper power will ease pressure on local businesses.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy
