Power bill rebate fight heats up

Power bill rebate fight heats up

The rollout of the federal government’s power worth reduction plan might be on the centrepiece of Jim Chalmers’ assembly together with his state and territory counterparts on Friday.

The treasurers’ will use the primary Council on Federal Financial Relations assembly of the 12 months to ramp up negotiations for his or her equal contributions to the plan, which Dr Chalmers says might be a centrepiece of the May price range.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean is predicted to make use of the assembly to name on the Albanese authorities to instantly ship its share of the rebates, fairly than pressure struggling Australians to attend, doubtlessly till July.

The authorities’s power worth reduction plan was rushed by way of parliament in a particular sitting in December, after states and the commonwealth agreed to co-fund family rebates, in change for a cap on coal costs.

Question Time 8FEB23
Camera IconTreasurer Jim Chalmers will meet together with his state and territory counterparts on Friday to debate the power invoice reduction plan. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia

Anthony Albanese had beforehand promised nationwide cupboard would finalise the ultimate particulars of the plan by March, however in an opinion piece for The Australian on Friday, Dr Chalmers urged the deadline would now be prolonged till the price range in May.

“These measures are targeted and affordable, taking some of the pressure off household budgets without putting more pressure on inflation,” he wrote.

As for whether or not the federal government would go additional within the May price range to deal with the crippling cost-of-living disaster exacerbated by the ninth consecutive rate of interest rise, Dr Chalmers stated the price range needed to be “responsible” and spending restraint could be its “hallmark”.

“No matter which way the numbers are cut, our first budget did some heavy lifting to take pressure off inflation, and we’ll continue that approach in our second in May,” he wrote.

The assembly of treasurers will even give attention to the rollout of the National Housing Accord, and the progress of states and territories in constructing a million new properties from 2024.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting with my state and territory colleagues as we progress work on some of the biggest economic challenges facing our nation,” he stated.

Source: www.perthnow.com.au