Record energy prices contribute to inequality
30 August 2017
ACTU

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has today called for the Turnbull Government to combat the rising cost of power by standing up to the excessive corporate power in the privatised energy market.

A new report today reveals private energy companies are playing the system to drive up prices and profits.

Power costs have increased by over 200 per cent in recent years; energy companies have racked in massive profits and wages and pensions have flat-lined.   

Quotes attributable to ACTU President Ged Kearney:

“The privatised energy market is broken. And while the Turnbull Government fumbles with careless fixes, people are struggling to keep the lights on in their homes.”

“Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is leading a divided government and is unable, or unwilling, to take the action people need to bring down energy prices.”

“Power prices have tripled since the Abbott-Turnbull Government scrapped the carbon price.”

“The big power companies are out of control. They are earning billions per year off the backs of ordinary people, while paying little or no tax.”   

“Prime Minister Turnbull could make the big energy companies pay their taxes. He could introduce a clean energy target. But we have lost confidence that he can.”

“Record high energy prices are contributing to inequality. When workers’ pay has flat lined, company profits are soaring, and the cost of everything is going up. People are struggling to afford to survive.”

“Working people need a pay rise. They need to get paid their superannuation. They need a government who can manage the energy market. They need a government that is there to help them.”

“But the Government is actually making things harder. Cutting penalty rates, cutting corporate tax rates, refusing to crack down on corporate tax evasion, and attacking working people’s unions’ all make inequality worse for the entire country.”   

“The Turnbull Government is in the pocket of big business and is too weak to stand up to the big energy companies.”

ENDS

Power was privatized by governments because they said it would be CHEAPER for the consumer.

But in reality record power price increases followed it.

What gives?? Where's my refund then?!

John Smith wrote on Aug 30^th, 2017 at 6:22pm:


A legalised scam.

thecurioudsmail....When that snake in the grass Mike Baird made sweeping statements that power would be cheaper once privatised, I almost fell out of my chair with the crap that was coming from his mouth

In the following NSW  State election the public acted like stupid bloody lemmings and he landslided in

And now we have that other lying Liberal sh.tpile Berejiklian following suit

Seriously what did the Public expect..to be told the truth? Give me a freaking break

Western Power is still in government hands 😀

What is your states kWh price for say daylight hours ?

whiteknight wrote on Aug 30^th, 2017 at 5:40pm:


The unions don't have a fukkin clue, Andrews is using taxpayers money to subsidise renewables he is pushing his state to be like SA which has the worlds highest electricity prices and the most unreliable supply thanks to renewable idiocy.

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It doesn't get much better in Qld with labor with government owned electricity reaping record profits, why are the unions silent about this-

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The forum dole bludger should get an education and a job, Senator David Leyonhjelm says the government should drop GST on electricity, does anyone think our bloated government will drop any taxes?

Its time wrote on Aug 30^th, 2017 at 7:13pm:


NSW 28.50 cents per KWH hour.

Baronvonrort wrote on Aug 30^th, 2017 at 8:50pm:


SA dependency on gas is their problem for power prices , that could be easily fixed with a gas guarantee from WA as an example , it's easier for you to blame solar , my feed in is 7.315 c per kWh , synergy then sells it back to me for 26-27c per kWh, I am subsidizing my own power