Rent, energy, transport driving cost of living crisis in Tasmania

Rising rents are contributing to a cost of living crisis in Tasmania — with the threat of a large spike in power prices adding to household budget woes. See the latest figures.

Rising rents are contributing to a cost of living crisis — with the threat of a large spike in power prices adding to householdbudget woes, Labor says.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released on Tuesday showed Tasmanians were spending 19.9 per cent more on non-discretionaryitems in August compared with the same time last year.

Transport spending was up a staggering 36 per cent.

The official Bureau of Statistics CPI figures record a rise of 6.5 per cent in the June quarter compared to the same timein 2021.

Labor’s housing spokeswoman Ella Haddad said a new quarterly rental report showed a 7.3 per cent year-on-year rental increasein Hobart, with the average property now costing $551 a week.

ALP Member for Clark, Ella Haddad at Parliament Lawns, Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

“That is $56 a week, or nearly $3000 a year higher than Melbourne,’’ she said.

“Meanwhile Tasmanian wages continue to stagnate and lag behind the rest of the country by $10,000 a year on average.”

The report also shows the rental vacancy rate continues to fall compared to last year.

“State government data shows that the situation is even worse in regional Tasmania.”

The ABS recorded a 6.2 per cent increase in rents in Hobart over the year to July.

Liberal minister Madeleine Ogilvie said the government was doing what it could to build more houses to ease the crisis – andurged landlords to do their part.

“I’m a landlord and I make sure that my tenants are happy. I keep my rent at a sensible level,” she said.

“I have students there and it’s very important to us to have good tenants who are happy as well.”

Labor’s Dean Winter said rumblings of a 35 per cent power price increase signalled further pain for Tasmanian households.

Labor’s Dean Winter said rumblings of a 35 per cent power price increase signalled further pain for Tasmanian households.

Mr Winter cited comments by Alinta Energy CEO Jeff Dimery that “horrendous” price rises were “the reality of where we’re headed”.

“Power bills have risen 12 per cent as a result, or $227 for the average household,’’ he said.

“In the middle of a cost of living crisis, further price rises of 35 per cent – triple the pain felt by households this year – would be catastrophic.”

Energy and Renewables Minister Guy Barnett said Labor was spreading gloom.

“The government understands that cost of living is a real issue for many Tasmanians which is why we are implementing a boostedand expanded $50m energy saver loan scheme for residential customers and small businesses,’’ he said.

wn Tasmania and use baseless scare tactics when it has no plan or vision for our great state.”

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