Tasmanian households need additional support to relieve the stress of increased power bills during the COVID-19 crisis.
Shadow Treasurer David O’Byrne said as we head into winter, thousands of households are suffering from bill shock at a time when they can least afford it.
“This crisis has already caused widespread pain throughout the Tasmanian community,” Mr O’Byrne said.
“Sadly, 20,000 people have already lost their jobs, many are working from home where able, children are learning from home and others are self-isolating at home. And with the request for Tasmanians to stay home comes responsibility.
“Against this backdrop of increased energy use, compounded by a cold start to winter, power bills have begun arriving in letterboxes, causing unwelcome financial stress.
“Capping household power prices will not be enough to take the sharp edge off higher power bills for many households.
“While Aurora Energy has made $5 million available to help both business and residential customers impacted by COVID-19, households need additional support to get them through these extraordinary times.
“I urge the Premier to provide a winter energy supplement to households in financial stress, similar to the government’s 2018 election-eve provision of a $10 million special energy bonus in the middle of summer.”
David O’Byrne
Shadow Treasurer
