Page 2207 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 August 2014
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Gas prices in the ACT will change from September 2014 and also be backdated to July.
The ActewAGL data suggests the drop in electricity and gas prices has been larger for Canberrans than was originally predicted by the Abbott government before the carbon price repeal.
That is most welcome. But to provide Mr Barr with the answer to his question, that is only the start of the savings. Electricity and gas prices were only one part of the imposition placed on every Canberra household by the regressive Labor tax. Let me give you another quote, Mr Assistant Speaker. On 7 August Sarah Ferguson, on ABC TV, asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission—the ACCC—chairman, Rod Sims, whether the government got it right when they said household savings would be $550 a year. Let me now quote from the chair of the ACCC, who I am sure Mr Barr would not want to criticise—
Mr Barr: I can criticise him if I want. Let’s see what you—
MR HANSON: We will wait. We will see if Mr Barr wants to stand up and say how he knows better than the chair of the ACCC, which seems to be the basis of his interjections here today. Let us see what Rod Sims said:
Yes, I think they did.
They did get it right—$550. He continued:
I think you can see half that amount in things you can touch and feel like energy prices, a range of other prices, council rates and things like that.
Certainly, we know all about council rates in this town, don’t we, Mr Barr? He continued:
The rest of it will come through in little bits off a whole range of goods that you buy. So I think $550 is a good number.
Given that we know that the savings are bigger here in Canberra for gas and electricity, that amount is probably going to be more.
Mr Barr: So it’s more?
MR HANSON: Yes, it would be, wouldn’t it? It probably would be, given the analysis that we have seen that Canberrans in actual fact are getting a bigger discount than originally predicted. So isn’t that welcome news? I can hear Mr Barr welcoming that news for Canberra households! Maybe what Mr Barr thinks is, “If they’ve got more money, I can put rates up even higher.” Maybe that is what is running through his mind right now. “Here’s a golden opportunity. They’ve got $550 back, maybe more. Let’s put their rates up.” Mr Barr, is that what you are thinking? No doubt it is.
Mr Barr: Maybe more, Mr Hanson.
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