Media Releases

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty has expressed his support for community members alarmed about the harsh pruning of street trees by Powercor in main streets and townships across the electorate of Lowan.

“I am very concerned about the devastating impact pruning is having on the streetscapes and appeal of our rural townships,” Mr Delahunty said.

“I have been attempting to work through the electricity regulator Energy Safe Victoria, Powercor officials and Ministerial channels to improve the situation, but while these discussions are ongoing, trees continue to be scalped.  It is simply not good enough.”

The Government has in place a code of practice for tree pruning that is centred on safety, amenity and managing risk, including fire risk.  This code of practice, which is not new, includes a requirement that those responsible for tree pruning to seek to minimise the impact of pruning on trees of cultural or environmental significance.

“However, the pruning protocol being undertaken by Powercor fails the test of balancing community values with risk,” said Mr Delahunty.

“Powercor’s consultation is not good enough with the community and the Councils, and their communication strategy is equally poor in informing the community of decisions made.

I would encourage Powercor to consider its responsibilities to the community, and work positively with councils to achieve a more respectful outcome for the streetscapes of our rural towns.”

 

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said Victorian Government electricity concessions are available for all pensioner concession, health care or DVA Gold card holders.
“A 17.5% discount on your electricity bill is available to pensioners and eligible concession card holders, and this discount is available for a full 12 month period covering cooling as well as heating,” Mr Delahunty said
“This is particularly important to remember during periods of extreme heat which we are experiencing, the use of air conditioners is vital in helping to cope with the high temperatures,” he said.
“This is particularly important for the elderly and families with young children to stay as cool as possible during heat waves.”
“There is nothing more important than the health of our loved ones and this concession is designed to assist western Victorians meet those electricity costs associated with achieving this,” Mr Delahunty said.
“The Victorian Coalition Government does not have control over electricity prices with the latest rises being a direct result of the Federal Government’s carbon tax and network service charges which are independently regulated by the Australian Energy Regulator.”
“However, we are doing all we can to assist western Victorians meet their cost of living expenses and this electricity concession sits alongside a number of other available concessions,” Mr Delahunty said.
If you require further information about concessions that may be available to you visit website http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions or contact the Victorian Concessions Line on 1800 658 521

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said the Victorian Coalition Government is urging householders to take advantage of its Gas Heater Rebate and Solar Hot Water Rebate to help them stay warm this winter and to save money on their energy bills.

“The gas heater rebate makes it more affordable for low-income Victorians to switch from electric to gas heating,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The onset of winter and cooler temperatures often means rising energy bills, with electric heaters being the most expensive to run.”

The Victorian Government Gas Heater Rebate for Concession Card Holders allows eligible card holders, who are currently using electric heating, to receive a $700 discount off the purchase and installation cost of a gas space heater.

“The Victorian Government recognises the impact rising energy bills are having on household budgets, especially for low-income earners,” Mr Delahunty said.

“By replacing electric heaters with high-efficiency gas, households can save around $280 on their annual energy bills as well as delivering a better outcome for the environment.”

The rebate is provided as a point-of-sale discount on approved gas space heaters with a minimum four-star rating and with more than 100 participating suppliers across Victoria.

Mr Delahunty also urged western Victorians who are thinking about upgrading their gas hot water system to consider a solar hot water system.

The Victorian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate is provided to householders as a point-of-sale discount off the supply and installation costs. Rebates of up to $1,500 for metropolitan Melbourne and $1,600 for regional Victoria continue to be available.

Mr Delahunty said there was some confusion following the Federal Government’s decision to end its solar hot water rebate program for replacing electric hot water systems earlier this year.

“However, the Victorian Government rebate for replacing gas hot water systems with solar is entirely separate and continues to be available to Victorian households,” Mr Delahunty said.

“By installing a solar hot water system, Victorians can reduce their energy use and save up to 75 per cent of their water-heating costs.”

For more information on the Victorian Government Gas Heater Rebate for Concession Card Holders and the Victorian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate, including eligibility requirements and participating suppliers, call 1300 366 195 or visit www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/rebates

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has again slammed the Brumby Government for the smart meter debacle.

 

“This disaster goes on and on – now the Brumby government has decided at the last minute to freeze time-of-use (TOU) pricing until 2011,” Mr Delahunty said.

 

Time-of-use (TOU) pricing has been promoted by the Brumby Government as being a key consumer benefit of smart meters, but advice provided to the Minister for Energy shows the Brumby Government’s last-minute decision to freeze TOU pricing until 2011 will cost consumers millions.

 

“The Labor Government’s smart meter failure is already costing struggling Victorian families too much – now we learn that this government’s incompetence has added millions more to their burden.”

 

Mr Delahunty said with massive cost blowouts, technology that doesn’t work as promised and ministerial cover-ups to avoid responsibility, the smart meter project has become the myki of power metering.

 

“Labor has had years to get this project right but on the eve of the introduction of TOU pricing announced a short-term moratorium which is just another ploy by the Brumby Government in the run up to the November election to again deceive the electorate,” Mr Delahunty said.

 

“Western Victorian families deserve better and deserve to know if they are being asked to throw good money after bad because of the Brumby Government’s smart meter fiasco,” he said.

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty welcomes the Legislative Council’s passing of a resolution condemning the Brumby Labor Government over its incompetent roll out of smart meters into every home and small business across Victoria.

”All political parties, other than Labor, in the Upper House joined forces to support the motion moved by the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition to freeze the roll out of smart meters,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Coalition’s motion “calls on the Brumby Government to immediately freeze the roll out of the smart meter program until a full and independent cost-benefit analysis can be undertaken to ensure that consumers will not be worse off as a result”.

“Every non-government party in the Victorian Parliament has united to condemn John Brumby’s smart meter disaster,” Mr Delahunty said.

“This project has become the MYKI of metering.  These smart meters are causing a great deal of angst to the people of western Victoria and it is outrageous that families are being asked to pay higher electricity bills for a cost blow out on smart meters they do not have and which do not work as the Government has claimed they would,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Not only has the Auditor-General condemned the Brumby Government’s mismanagement of the smart meter program but the Minister for Energy and Resources Peter Batchelor also recently conceded that the current cost of the smart meter project to be paid for by electricity users had blown out to at least $1.6 billion, from an original costing of $800 million costing,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The Legislative Council has now demanded that the Brumby Government freeze its smart meter roll out until an independent cost-benefit analysis can determine if Victorian families are being asked to throw good money after bad by continuing this program under its current regime,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Victoria deserves better.  Labor’s so-called smart meters are late, dumb and expensive. John Brumby should listen to the people of western Victoria and immediately halt the roll out until all the facts are made clear,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said today the decision by the Brumby Labor Government to institute a moratorium on ‘time of use’ pricing with smart meters underlines the confusion that has surrounded this bungled project.

 

“The Brumby Government promoted ‘time of use’ pricing as a key feature and benefit of its smart meters.  The Government has announced there will be no ‘time of use’ pricing for the foreseeable future – despite consumers having to pay for smart meters that are designed to deliver that pricing,” Mr Delahunty said.

 

“Despite the moratorium on time-of-use pricing, the Government is persisting with its roll out of smart meters into 2.5 million Victorian homes and small businesses.  As a result consumers are being forced to pay for smart meters they don’t have, and many don’t want, and may not have for another three years.

 

“Now that one of the supposed key benefits of smart meters has been shelved by the Government, there must be an immediate freeze to the roll out,” Mr Delahunty said.

 

“Victorian families deserve to know if good money is being thrown after bad.  There has been community outrage over the Brumby Government’s poor management which has resulted in the project blowing out from $800 million to $2.25 billion.

 

“I have been contacted by many Lowan residents concerned having to pay for these meters and their concerned about price rises and the negative impact this will have on seniors, young families, the unemployed and those who are home during the day.

 

“I have presented petitions in Parliament and will present further petitions in the next sitting week.

 

“The Auditor General reported that the electricity industry may benefit from smart meters at the expense of the consumers who pay for them.  This again shows the inability of the Brumby Labor government to manage projects and the smart meters are now known as the “Myki” of metering.

 

“I urge the community to continue to support the Coalition’s concern about the government’s smart meters and sign our petition,” Mr Delahunty said.

The petition is available from Mr Delahunty’s electorate offices at 114 Firebrace Street, Horsham telephone 5382 0097 or 44 Gray Street, Hamilton telephone 5571 9800.