Combined statement from Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), Bundaberg Regional Irrigators Group, CANEGROWERS, Consumer Action Law Centre, National Irrigators Council, National Farmers’ Federation, NSW Farmers’ Association, Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), Queensland Farmers’ Federation, St Vincent de Paul Society (Victoria).
In light of the disappointing Federal Government decision on the National Energy Guarantee, consumer and end-user groups (the ‘Group’) representing regional and urban communities have joined together to hold state and federal governments accountable on achieving price reductions for reliable electricity across the nation.
The cost of electricity used to be a source of competitive advantage for Australian industries, now our electricity costs are amongst the highest in the OECD. This is harming our international competitiveness and economy, providing poor outcomes for consumers, and disproportionately and negatively impacting vulnerable consumers and communities. These conditions are clearly unacceptable.
In June 2018, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released the Restoring electricity affordability & Australia’s competitive advantage report, providing 56 recommendations across the electricity supply chain that, if implemented, will reduce electricity prices by at least 20-25% Australia wide by 2020-21. It is now up to state and federal governments to accept and implement these recommendations.
The Group is seeking that all levels of government commit to:
- implementing the ACCC recommendations that will achieve a minimum 20% average electricity price reduction within the next four years;
- establishing annual targets on achieving this price reduction target so the public can hold government to account; and
- ongoing consultation with industry and consumer groups on the design and implementation of the ACCC recommendations.
Over the past decade, there has been a myriad of government reviews on the energy sector that has yielded very little tangible outcomes, with electricity prices doubling for most consumers. All levels of government will be held accountable by the Group if ACCC recommendations are not implemented, and there is a failure to achieve the very conservative target of a 20% electricity price reduction within four years. There is no more room for political manoeuvring or passing the buck.