Media Releases

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty, has this week in Parliament expressed his dismay that over the last 11 years of Labor government the cost of living for Victorian families has increased significantly, particularly in the areas of electricity, water and council rates.

Mr Delahunty said country Victorians were angry at having to pay ever increasing charges under the Brumby Government.

“Soaring water, gas and electricity prices have increased the financial pressure on all Victorians, but I am particularly concerned for families and pensioners,’ Mr Delahunty said.

“In its State Budget Submission 2009-10 the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) stated that:

“As well as affecting peoples’ ability to meet their basic needs, increases in the cost of essentials like housing, energy, water and transport put pressure on individuals and families to meet other costs, such as those related to their children’s participation in school.”

“Despite significant increases in these costs, the Brumby Government has failed to increase concession rates in line with these increases.”

Mr Delahunty said Victorians also bear the burden of an automatic increase in every State Government fee, fine and charge, as part of the Brumby Government’s policy of indexing all state fees and charges every year on July 1.

“I have spoken with many welfare organisations, community organisations and pensioner group in the past few months who are concerned about the impacts of high utility costs.

“It’s high time this Labor Government started listening to the concerns of Victorians regarding the costs of living in our state.”

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is urging Lowan residents to be wary of scams.

“A number of people have contacted my office regarding telephone calls they have received suggesting that their bank had over charged them and they could retrieve the fees from “the Western Union Store” for a fee of $400,” Mr Delahunty said.

“After some research by my office, this is a scam!  I am aware there is a class action in progress against banks to return overpaid fees and these phone calls are piggybacking on that and preying on unsuspecting people.”

Mr Delahunty said scams were designed to trick people into giving away their personal details or money and that they come in many and varied forms – mail, email, telephone, internet and door-to-door.

“I am urging Lowan residents to be vigilant and sceptical of unsolicited offers and prizes.  If you are at all doubtful that an offer or a prize is legitimate, don’t give out your personal details, credit card number or financial details.”

“It is an old saying but still very true – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Mr Delahunty said.

You can also report a scam by phoning the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 795 995. The Infocentre is staffed between 8.30 am and 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday or visit www.scamwatch.gov.au

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said today the State Government must undertake an immediate further review of inequities in liquor licence fees.

“Whilst I welcome the recent exemptions of bed and breakfast establishments, florists and gift maker businesses from liquor licence fees from 2011, the exemptions do not go far enough in overcoming other licence inequities and discrepancies,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The continued inappropriate level of fees and ongoing inequities is causing anger and frustration for liquor licence holders across Victoria and in the Lowan Electorate,” he said.

Mr Delahunty said that earlier this year many licence holders, including sporting clubs and not for profit organisations had paid the high liquor licence fees under duress so they could be licensed to operate in this calendar year.

“Numerous genuine appeals to the Liquor Licensing Authority have been rejected and licence holders were forced to pay the new licence fees by January 21, 2010 or face the possibility of the imposition of fines for being unlicensed,” he said.

Mr Delahunty said most licence holders were justifiably angry with the Government’s headlong pursuit of fee increases to raise $35 million from licence holders this year with no real consideration of the adverse affects of such a massive increase in fees for small business owners, sporting clubs and not for profit organisations, or the community.

“Of greatest concern though is the high fees being imposed seem to have little relationship to the so called high risk problem areas or hot spots the Government is supposedly trying to overcome.

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty, was today pleased to learn that the Australian Communications and Media Authority have announced the ‘Do Not Call Register’ has been expanded to include registration of fax numbers. 

The amended legislation came in to effect on 30 May 2010 and has also increased the registration period from three to five years.

“I am very pleased by the amendments to this legislation as I personally have experienced the large volume of marketing material tying up my fax machine.  Likewise I have had a number of constituents contact my office asking how they can prevent such material being sent through.”

There are currently more than 4.9 million phone numbers on the Do Not Call Register. To register log on to www.donotcall.gov.au or call 1300 792 958. Fax numbers can only be registered online.

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said today that the admission by the Minister for Consumer Affairs that florists, gift shops and bed and breakfasts should no longer be required to pay his unfair liquor license fees proves Labor was wrong and the Liberal Nationals Coalition was right.

”The Liberal Nationals Coalition has lobbied hard for small businesses such as florists, gift shops and bed and breakfasts that the liquor license fees have been excessive and now the Minister has conceded his unfair fee slug could not be justified,” Mr Delahunty said.

“With the Brumby Government’s so-called ‘risk-based’ liquor laws these small businesses paid $58.50 in 2008, $93 in 2009 and $397.50 in 2010 – a blatant fee grab and a grossly unfair slug on our small businesses in western Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Labor’s liquor licensing fee hike had nothing to do with reducing anti-social behaviour and a florist in the Lowan electorate selling a bottle of wine with flowers for Valentine’s Day should never have been slugged for John Brumby’s failure to address the violence in our cities.”

Mr Delahunty said this latest Brumby Government backdown comes despite the Minister previously telling Parliament that he made ‘absolutely no apologies’ for introducing massive liquor license fee increases.

“John Brumby’s Labor Government has introduced an unfair system that hurts small business and community clubs while failing to tackle the causes of anti-social behaviour,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Now less than six months before the election, the Brumby Labor government is in damage control and attempting to undo some of the damage they have inflicted on Victorian small businesses.”

“After 11 years of Labor’s incompetence, western Victorians deserve better than the Brumby Government imposing unfair liquor licensing fees,” Mr Delahunty said.