Christian Porter reveals why we should freeze cost of living

Christian Porter says WA’s multibillion-dollar GST windfall means there no reason to hike up power, water and other government charges from July 1.

Christian Porter is calling on the McGowan Government to “freeze all cost of living increases” in its May 9 State Budget.

Mr Porter, the nation’s Attorney-General and former WA treasurer, said WA’s multibillion-dollar GST windfall meant there was no reason to hike up power, water and other government charges come July 1. His comments come as WA Liberal shadow energy spokesman Dean Nalder yesterday released new data which showed 62 homes a day in WA — or 434 a week — had their power disconnected in the first two months of this year.

The Economic Regulation Authority’s report on Friday said Synergy’s disconnection rate had soared by 118 per cent over 2016-17 and 2017-18, compared to an increase of 12.6 per cent in Horizon Power’s disconnection rate.

It said electricity price rises, limits on hardship grants and growing unemployment had made it harder for consumers to pay their energy bills.

“The assessment by the independent regulator is a damning assessment of Labor’s attacks on cost of living and people in hardship,” Mr Porter said.

“Given WA Labor has been the recipient of massive GST windfalls, there is absolutely no reason for Labor to continue its massive cost of living increases.”

“That’s why I am today calling on WA Labor to freeze all cost of living increases in its next Budget.”

Under the former WA Liberal-National government electricity charges went up nearly 90 per cent.

Under Mr McGowan, power prices have gone up a further 18 per cent.

Mr McGowan has previously said no to freezing utility charges. But he has said that power hikes in 2019-20 would be limited to as low as CPI — about 2 per cent.

Originally published as Christian Porter reveals why we should freeze cost of living