Not good enough Mr. Albanese. Better pull relevant ministers into line.
********************************************************************************* Red tape delays Albanese government's power bill savings
Struggling families have been forced to wait for $300 discounts on their power bills, after bureaucratic red tape delayed the Albanese government’s signature cost-of-living policy. Matt Johnston
Bureaucratic red tape has delayed the Albanese government’s signature cost-of-living policy, with power giants still waiting for approval to begin applying new rebates to bills.
In May, federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers unveiled a $300-a-household rebate scheme that would roll out from July 1, with payments split over four quarterly payments.
At the time, Mr Chalmers said the relief, which would also go to millions of small businesses through $325 payments, was because families were feeling the pinch, and he argued it would also put downward pressure on inflation.
But struggling households who recently received bills without a credit applied have started contacting retailers with complaints, forcing Origin Energy to clarify on its website there was a “delay in rebate payments to NSW, Victorian and South Australian customers”.
The Herald Sun has learnt that a legal document that requires state and federal sign-off in those three states has not yet been finalised, blocking retailers from applying rebates.
It can also be revealed that although an implementation date for the scheme was set at July 1 in Queensland and Western Australia, it was set at July 31 in other states. A similar bill relief scheme the previous year began on July 1.
Matt Johnston
