Power bills tumble post carbon tax: MP

SCRAPPING the carbon tax has delivered the biggest drop in electricity prices on record, according to federal MP Sarah Henderson.
The Liberal Member for Corangamite said the fall for the September quarter was the largest since 1980 when Australian Bureau of Statistics began measuring electricity prices for its inflation index.
Ms Henderson confirmed “significant” price reductions in Corangamite and up to
12.4 per cent across Victoria.
“There are likely to be further flow on benefits of lower electricity prices on the cost of other goods and services over the coming quarter,” she said.
“The figures confirm that scrapping the carbon tax is delivering real and immediate cost of living relief to Australian families.”
Ms Henderson said electricity prices rose 101 per cent under Labor.
“We’ve scrapped Labor’s carbon tax to deliver relief to Australian families and businesses. The coalition is committed to lower electricity prices for Australian families.
“Bill Shorten wants to take away these savings with his plan to bring back the carbon tax.”
Federal Labor Member for Corio Richard Marles hit back with an attack on the Abbott Government’s budget.
“If the Liberal government is serious about helping reduce the cost of living for people they can start by dumping their toxic budget of broken promises and new taxes, including their proposed GP tax and fuel tax,” he said.
Ms Henderson also called on the region’s councils to pass on carbon tax savings to ratepayers.
“In the case of the City of Greater Geelong, the council received a very substantial windfall of more than $500,000 just in landfill fees. I once again call on the City to confirm the savings that have been accrued as a result of the carbon tax abolition and whether these savings will be passed back to ratepayers, as other councils have done.”
Council city services general manager Gary Van Driel said City Hall was considering projects to provide “a carbon offset (that)could be funded with the monies collected in relation to the former carbon tax”.
Mr Van Driel said a report was being prepared for council’s consideration “regarding the allocation of the carbon tax liability funds to nominated projects”.