Cost-of-living pressures continue to hurt regional households at a higher rate than their city counterparts, with water and electricity rates both soaring for those living in country towns.
The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, said higher energy bills were yet another burden that regional communities were forced to deal with under the Allan Labor Government.
“Unfortunately, people in our regional communities are doing it tough during a cost of living crisis,” Ms Cleeland said.
“In addition to Labor introducing over 50 new taxes that are hurting the pockets of our local households, essential services like water and electricity continue to become more and more expensive for residents in our towns.”
When it comes to water bills, The Essential Services Commission Annual Report for 2023/24 revealed that regional Victorians are set to see a 4 per cent cost increase in the next financial year – an average hit of $50 per household.
Increases are also expected for metropolitan Melbourne, however this is only expected to be a rise of $33 per household.
Electricity bills are also disproportionately impacting regional Victoria, with default tariff rates for 2024-25 being higher for households and businesses outside of metropolitan Melbourne’s CitiPower network.
The default tariff for AusNet, which services mostly regional areas in the east of Victoria, was $1902 for residential households and $4388 for businesses. Meanwhile, the CitiPower tariff was just $1456 for residential customers and $3025 for businesses.
Ms Cleeland said that the rising cost of living under the Allan Labor Government was having an acute impact on regional residents.
“My office is contacted every week by people concerned about the impact these rising taxes, rates, and bills will have on their ability to live their lives or continue operating their businesses,” Ms Cleeland said.
“We’re already seeing local businesses suffer and have to shut their doors.
“Our towns are crying out for some relief, but under this Allan Labor Government, the cost-of-living is only getting more expensive.”
