[Greens-Media] Impact of water price rise a sign of things to come

[Manderson, Roland]

--------------------------
ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
---------------------------

11 April 08




Impact of water price rise a sign of things to come

In the light of substantially increased price of water announced today,
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey has called for a more robust concession scheme
to ensure people living on low incomes aren't hit too hard by the impact
of climate change.

"I moved a motion in the Assembly last year asking the ACT Government to
conduct a review of its concession schemes."

"While that review pointed to the equity implications of the impact of
climate change, in its response the Government did not make a commitment
to take that on."

"It is fair to see this significant increase in the price of water as an
example of the impact of climate change."  

"And whole most Canberra people will be pleased to see that any extra
they pay for water will go back in to securing their water supply, some
people will find it hard to pay the bill."

"The ACT Government has announced today, however, that it will expand
its rebate on water supply charges to all health care card holders. I
welcome the announcement."

"but there are a number of Canberra people for whom the basic costs of
living are rising faster than their income, and they don't all have
health care cards." 

"The Government utilities tax has pushed up power and phone costs.
Recent interest rate rises have pushed up their rent or mortgages.
Petrol price rises are pushing up transport costs.  Now their water is
going up by 15%."

"I recognise that the ICRC and the ACT Government are starting to
grapple with the equity implications of price rises such as this."

"I think they have a lot further to go" Dr Foskey said.

================================
Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately. You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------