OPINION PIECE
The Federal Government has run out of excuses after officially breaking its election promise to reduce household energy bills by $275 following the release of draft regulated electricity prices last week.
The draft Default Market Offer has confirmed that Labor has fallen short by up to $1,027 of its promised price reduction for everyday households, equivalent to a 37 per cent increase since Labor came to power.
Small businesses have also been hit hard by Labor’s spiralling energy crisis with bills soaring by up to $2,047 since Labor made its fatal promise.
As a sign of the suffering faced by everyday Australian households, startling new numbers from the AER have also revealed 116,753 people have been placed into hardship due to their skyrocketing energy bills and 192,459 people are now in energy debt.
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said, “Labor was elected on a promise that it would reduce household electricity bills by $275 but instead Australians are now paying among the most expensive bills in the world.
“This is simply unaffordable for residents in my community who are already suffering under Labor’s out of control cost-of-living-crisis.”
The Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O’Brien claimed Labor’s broken promise on energy prices was “unforgiveable”.
“The Australian people deserve nothing less than a complete and unreserved apology from Prime Minister Albanese for making households and businesses pay for his failures.
“Labor has lost all credibility on energy prices and has completely shattered its trust with the Australian people.
“Labor has failed to deliver on its all-important promise to reduce energy prices by $275 on 2021/22 levels and now owes the average Australian household up to $1,027.”
Shadow Minister for Energy Affordability and Western Sydney, Melissa McIntosh said, “after dodging questions on Labor’s $275 power price promise there is now nowhere left for the Prime Minister to hide,” Mrs McIntosh said.
The draft DMO, released by the Australian Energy Regulator, sets the ‘reference price’ for electricity bills for the 2024-2025 period and will now be consulted on before the final determination is made in coming months.
Image supplied. Authorised by Ted O’Brien, LNP, Maroochydore, Qld
