Electricitysparks up seat battle

By Michelle Herbison
LIBERAL candidate for Corangamite Sarah Henderson has accused Federal Government of “blaming others” for surging electricity prices despite introducing a carbon tax.
“The electricity bills are starting to arrive throughout Corangamite and families and businesses are starting to experience bill shock from Julia Gillard’s carbon tax,” Ms Henderson said.
Electricity prices had risen 60 per cent since Labor came to government, she said.
“Now, after introducing the world’s biggest carbon tax, (Julia Gillard) wants the people of Corangamite to believe she understands what households and businesses are facing.
“How can the Prime Minister who said ‘There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead’ be believed when it comes to claims about electricity prices now?”
Ms Henderson said Labor had approved all electricity network price rises in recent years through its Australian Energy Regulator.
The only way to tackle rising electricity prices was to “scrap the carbon tax”, she said.
Labor Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman said compensation for the carbon tax left consumers better off financially.
The 60 per cent increase in prices was the responsibility of the states, he said.
“The Commonwealth doesn’t own electricity-generating assets. In Victoria, some of that was privatised under the Kennett government.”
Mr Cheeseman said private generators and retailers were responsible for how much they charged.
The price on carbon was about “cleaning up our atmosphere” in response to climate change, he said.