ACOSS calls for action to deal with rising energy prices
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has called for action on rising energy prices so that low income Australians are not disadvantaged.
It was commenting on a report on energy prices from the Australian Industry Group (AIG) that said that energy prices would continue to rise sharply.
“This highlights the urgency of a political consensus on Australia’s clean energy future, including a price on carbon and greater energy efficiency, but also adequate safeguards to prevent low-income households plunging further into poverty,” ACOSS chief executive officer, Dr Cassandra Goldie said
“The AIG report confirms that energy prices will continue to rise sharply, placing ever more strain on people already struggling to meet their day to day living expenses, including their electricity and gas bills,” she said.
“Only last week we saw figures from the Queensland Competition Authority showing the number of residential electricity disconnections on the way up, with almost 20% of these disconnections for pensioners or concession card holders. These numbers confirm a national trend.
“Higher energy prices for industry inevitably flow through to consumers as higher prices for goods and services, and there is no doubt that low income households are hardest hit by these increases. People who live on fixed, low incomes just don’t have room to move. Something has to give.”
ACOSS agrees with AIG that energy policy and climate policy need to be smart, coherent but that, “critically it is essential that government action in the area of essential services includes measures that ensure disadvantaged groups, such as people who are unemployed, sole parents, people with disability and pensioners, are properly safeguarded,” Dr Goldie said.
