The Advertiser asks South Australians how they feel about Albo’s power bill broken promise
Labor promised a $275 cut in their power bills, but will deliver an average $1000 rise. We hit the streets to ask South Australians how it will affect their hip pockets.
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Labor promised South Australians a $275 cut in their power bills but will deliver an average $1000 rise. The Advertiser hit the streets on Wednesday, interviewing dozens of people who revealed varying levels of fear and despair at the electric shock – their responses are shared below.
Meanwhile, a bungled answer to a simple question on whether Labor would deliver on its election promise households and businesses will save $275 on power prices has forced Treasurer Jim Chalmers into an embarrassing backtrack.
Mr Chalmers initially said “yep, it’s in the budget” when asked if Australians should expect to get the power bill saving based on pre-election electricity prices by 2025.
But one hour later he fronted up to Question Time to claim he had “misheard” the journalist who had asked about the promise, and had not intended to offer any such guarantee.
“I thought (the journalist was) asking me a different question – I misheard it and I answered a different question,” Mr Chalmers said.
It comes as online polls conducted by The Advertiser revealed 87 per cent of almost 1300 respondents were angry Labor broke its promise to reduce power bills. And about 86 per cent of almost 1300 people who voted in another poll said they couldn’t afford a 56 per cent increase in power bills over the next two years.
On 97 occasions before the federal election, Labor promised the power bill cut to all Australian households and businesses.
Asked by The Advertiser to clarify his position, Dr Chalmers said the $275 figure was part of the modelling released last year and it “referred to the price in 2025”.
He said the government stood by its claim bringing more renewable energy into the market would create cheaper electricity, but blamed the war in Ukraine for “causing havoc with the energy market” and “pushing up prices” shorter term.
Earlier when asked about the risk people who couldn’t afford heating next winter could end up sick or even dying, Dr Chalmers said he believed there was “more work to be done” on cutting power prices.
Former British prime minister Liz Truss was run out of office by her own party after promising to cap energy prices and sending markets into a tailspin over the cost of the plan.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said there was “shock across the Australian community” in response to the forecast power price hike.
“They heard the Prime Minister on 97 occasions promise that their power prices would come down by $275,” he said.
New figures yesterday confirmed the annual inflation rate reached 7.3 per cent in the September quarter.
Mum frozen out by surging energy prices
Jess Nash has already turned off the lights and unplugged her freezer to cut energy consumption and is unsure how she will cover another increase to her power bill.
Raising three boys, aged seven, four and 18 months, her quarterly electricity bill is between $400 and $450 – or up to $1800 a year.
Based on federal budget predictions, that could rise 56 per cent by the end of 2024, increasing her annual bill by $1008 to $2808.
“We don’t turn lights on during the day, we open the blinds for natural light,” said the 26-year-old, who lives on a $1500-a-fortnight Centrelink parenting payment.
“We used to have a big freezer to store extra food but we’ve had to get rid of that. We can only change so much … I don’t really know what else I’m going to cut.”
Ms Nash, of Davoren Park, said she had “shopped around” for better deals on power prices and bought energy-saving light globes “but it doesn’t make a difference”.
“I don’t have the answers but if they (the government) can run the country, then they should be able to make it easier on families to afford their power bills.”
What everyday South Aussies have to say
The Advertiser hit the streets around Adelaide on Wednesday to ask how South Australians feel about Labor’s broken promise to cut their power bills by $275 – and deliver an average $1000 rise instead.
What’s your thoughts? Share your view in the comments at the end of the story.
Daisy Shirley, 30, St Peters
As a renter, it’s pretty scary but it was inevitable.
Sharvi Shah, 25, Greenacres
We need a long-term solution.
Rod Spangler, 62, Broken Hill
A 50 per cent increase would bite into my budget.
Ray Morris, 69, Kidman Park
I’m a self-funded retiree and my income is already dropping.
Haley Shepperd, 42, Tonsley
I’d be more conscious of how I use appliances like the heater.
Samantha Grass, 35, Edwardstown
I’m already conscious of my bills because of petrol prices.
Christine Williams, 64, Glenelg
If my electricity bills keep increasing, I’m just going to live in a tent.
Martina Degger, 70, Christie Downs
I would just have to put up with it.
Tom, 64, Athelstone
If it goes up further than 50 per cent it would (affect me).
Leah Baker, 47, Novar Gardens
It would have a big impact ... because my bills are already through the roof.
Glenn Merry, 77, South-East SA
We’re already vigilant about the appliances that we use now.
Tony Francis, 31, Ridgehaven
(Thankfully) I’ve got solar that covers all my bills.
Phoenix Allen, 22, Henley Beach
It would affect my savings ... for the future.
Louis Zauch, 67, Port Adelaide
I’m already a tight arse with lights, so I guess I’ll have to continue that way.
Peggy Foale, 79, Stirling
I feel for those on Centrelink who won’t be able to afford it.
William Brown, 84, Somerton Park
I don’t know how that sort of increase can be justified.
Jim Gazepis, 53, Woodcroft
It’s a big worry. It’s already pretty bad ... I’m already struggling to afford it.
Gary Marsh, 68, Adelaide
If you were unemployed or on a limited income it would be difficult.
Amelie Bottrill, 34, Mount Barker
It is a strain especially trying to keep the house warm for our babies.
Rasheef Rashid, 24, Adelaide
I only just moved here and it’s definitely a worry since I’m studying
Prabhat Badal, 37, Ascot Park
It’s just crazy at the moment, everything is going up.
Lou Tonin, 60, Prospect
It’s disturbing, there’s no way out of using electricity.
Vicki Brooks, 60, Woodville
I am more concerned about things the Budget has promised, especially around women and domestic violence.
Samantha Walters, 46, Prospect
I just don’t know how many people will be able to afford it.
Patricia Lambert, 29, Rosewater
Everything is going up but our wages are not.
Corey Gent, 21, Onkaparinga Hills
It makes me wonder how I will be able to afford to move out of home.
Lynne Angley, 50s, Colonel Light Gardens
I am not sure how people are going to afford it on the top of everything that has gone up.
Kate Procko, 40, Brompton
I am in (solar power) credit but this might change if power keeps going up.
Cathy Waldron, 68, Wynn Vale
It is shocking ... my last electricity bill had increased as it is.
Lucilla Chiro, 36, Athelstone
It is frightening when everything – your mortgage, fuel and groceries – is going up.
Jordan Taylor, 29, Torrens Park
I’ve come from the UK ... and did think the cost of living would be a lot less than what it is in Adelaide.
Alex Makeyev, 70, Kent Town
A lot of people will find it really, really hard, especially those with kids.
Bill Marshall, 82, Adelaide
The amount they say it is going to increase is the most shocking part.
Jordan Limongelli, 23, Campbelltown
It is pretty worrying ... not just the price of power but fuel as well.
Joshua Bauschke, 29, Whyalla
We run mainly off solar ... but I am concerned for those who are renting.
Anthony Onosiro, 25, Magill
We wouldn’t be going out as much. We already try to limit heating and appliances.
Eric Cram, 58, Glenelg
I’m going solar today ... because of all the increasing costs.
Yohan Thiruchelvam, 51, Glenelg
It would affect me quite a lot, especially my savings.
Marinko Trepic, 38, Parafield Gardens
(It) will mean we have less to spend on the kids and the things they enjoy.
Kate Trepic, 36, Parafield Gardens
We run our own business from home so there’s the double whammy of having both household and business costs rise.
Graham Loveday, 73, Millicent
It seems ridiculous really, it could be $800 or more extra a year.
Navjot Kaur, 29, Magill
It is very hard ... just yesterday I got my power bill and it was about $100 more than usual.
Eve Hough, 28, Semaphore Park
I am really concerned about those who can least afford it.
Daniela Vergara, 33, Semaphore Park
It is not just the price of power but fuel has gone up.
Andrew McLennan, 58, Hamley Bridge
You’ve just got to wonder where it will all stop.
Dean Baguley, 52, Adelaide
It will take a hunk out of our discretionary spening.”
Andrew Hewitt, 78, Adelaide
I am already doing what I can to conserve energy and my last bill was up by quite a lot.
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