"The rise in household prices is due to reckless federal spending and thiefs of wa money."
WEST Australians will be slugged an extra $218 a year come July 1 for household fees and charges, which include a 4 per cent hike in electricity fees.
Despite Premier Colin Barnett promising during the State Election that next financial year's electricity hikes would be kept at or around the inflation rate of 2.75 per cent, electricity charges will go up an extra $58 a year for families, bringing their average yearly electricity bill to $1510.
Ahead of the August 8 State Budget, Treasurer Troy Buswell also announced today that motor vehicle charges would increase an extra $25.24 a year, which includes a $3.80 hike for driver licence fees and $11.40 for motor vehicle licence fees.
He also revealed utility charges - which include electricity and water - would increase $137 a year, public transport $39 a year and the emergency services levy $16.
In total, the average family will pay $4987 in household fees and charges, up from $4769 last year.
And there was further bad news for WA households, with Mr Buswell warning electricity charges, which have already gone up 62 per cent since 2008, could rise a further 7 per cent next year.
The Treasurer said West Australians should brace themselves for a tough Budget and said the State Government was currently looking at savings in several areas to meet a drop in revenue.
Both the electricity and water are WA state government enterprises. The water corporation in particular makes a motza for the WA state government.
Why are WA residents subsidising mining companies?
Industry welcomes magnetite royalty relief
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) has welcomed Premier Colin Barnett’s announcement of a mining royalty rebate for fledgling magnetite producers.
Speaking at the opening of the State's first producing magnetite iron ore mine – Gindalbie Metals' Karara iron ore project in the Mid-West – Mr Barnett said the government would offer a 50 per cent rebate on royalties paid in the first year of magnetite production.
The rebate would be offered on a project-by-project basis for the next three years.
The full royalty rate of 5 per cent would apply after the first year of production. AMEC chief executive Simon Bennison described the offer as a positive initiative that would be welcomed by magnetite producers, particularly noting the high up-front capital costs in establishing a magnetite mine.
“The complex and high processing costs of magnetite beneficiation have also been recognised by this decision,” he said.
“Despite the fact that the rebate will only apply for the first year, before returning to the full royalty rate of 5 per cent, it will provide magnetite miners welcome financial and cashflow relief and allow companies to develop their business.”
The miners having funded the WA state liberal party are actually dictating policy that suits them to the detriment of the local populace. These largely foreign owned miners need to be dragged back into line.
