Elise Archer MP

It is clear that the rising cost of living is placing strain on most Tasmanians. I realise it is tough for most people at the moment, particularly pensioners and families.

The Tasmanian Liberals plan to ease the cost of living in the following ways:

• free bus travel for students;
• ensuring electricity, water & sewerage remain affordable; and
• fixing Labor’s bungled water & sewerage changes.

Free bus travel for students
I am committed to making bus travel to and from school free of charge for primary, secondary and college age students.  This initiative will happen under a Hodgman Liberal Government and will not only assist parents, but be better for the environment and help ensure Tasmanian children attend school.

I place real value on children attending school, and real value on increasing the use of public transport to assist our climate change challenge and ease traffic congestion.  I also acknowledge the significant impact petrol prices can have on already tight family budgets.

This initiative will also provide a significant saving to some families in difficult economic times when electricity and water & sewerage costs have already increased.

Affordable electricity, water & sewerage
Tasmanian residents and businesses have been hit hard by electricity price increases of 30% in the last two years.

In addition, Labor’s water and sewerage ‘reform’ has been completely bungled and Tasmanians are paying more than ever before.

In principle, people must have access to better water and sewerage services across Tasmania.  However, Labor’s bungling and mismanagement of the change is far from achieving this aim.

I remain strongly opposed to the pain inflicted on Tasmanians caused by the changes and, most recently, an unfair billing system which would increase further to achieve full cost recovery. This is not ‘spin’ but fact.

Fixing Labor’s bungled water & sewerage changes
The Tasmanian Liberals will fix Labor’s unfair and unreasonable water and sewerage changes.

Our policy will also ensure that investment in Tasmania’s water and sewerage infrastructure is not compromised, and that local council dividends are not compromised.
The Tasmanian Liberals’  four-point plan is:

1. Freeze prices for one year from 2010 -11. While we are fixing Labor’s mess we will not expect Tasmanians to pay the 5% increase next year that Labor has demanded. This means that water and sewerage bills will be kept at current year prices for 2010 -11 while we fix Labor’s mess;
2. Immediately conduct a comprehensive review of the current structure and operation of Labor’s failing water and sewerage reforms to seek efficiencies and cost savings, and to ensure the structure is best placed to access Federal Government funding. This is to be completed by December 2010;
3. Provide a four year guarantee that during the next term of Government price rises on water and sewerage bills will remain at or below 5%;
4. Empower Tasmanians to reduce their own water and sewerage bills by introducing a State-wide framework for grey water and rainwater tank use, and water savings measures such as dual flush toilet and water saving shower heads, by providing financial incentives to encourage their take up.

Labor recently announced a political quick-fix to this problem by giving nearly $60 million to the water corporations over the next three years to lower bills to a 5% increase.

However, Labor will not commit to what will happen with water and sewerage bills in three years’ time, only agreeing to a review whilst the Regulator once again sets the price.  This is a band-aid solution, designed to limit the community backlash over the election period.

In contrast, the Tasmanian Liberals will fix it and we will do it immediately if elected to government in March 2010.