The price of electricity in Queensland has gone up over 60% since the then Labor premier Peter Beatty put his hand on his heart and and promised us that the price would come down once he privatised the electricity generators. It was a blatant lie of course. Privatisation and deregulation has NEVER resulted in the price of a commodity going down. I firmly believe they privatised electricty supply so that the price could go UP and the government could say "it's not our fault" blaming the the now private electricity generator. They did this so they could get more profit out of the sale of electricity, because the government remains the major share holder in the new electricity company. Beatty was also could out making one of the electricity companies borrow millions of dollars and then give it to the government has 'dividends'. All the political parties now worship the god of commercialism. That means you try and make money out of everything, you give nothing for free if you can get away with charging for it. Our governments of all levels have completely lost the plot.
Ziggy, of course Federal funds are tied to road infrastructure. Do you know anything about this stuff at all? The feds and State govts are constantly fighting over what is a State road and what is a Fed road. Until election time when you suddenly hear govts promising to build this and that. Public/Private is simply a mechanism State govts introduced to avoid having to pay for what they should. They obviosly solf the concept well to you but most can see right through it. Think about it. We own a road. It becomes congested and needs an upgrade. Now the govt could just do it and the cost is finished. Or they could sell the road for toll purposes to privates, which often seem to be people well known to the MP's or the Party doing the selling. People who use these roads don't get any tax cuts for the saving the govt made by selling the road do they? Nope, they get the privelige of voluntary taxation. Drive on the road and they charge you. And try to forget that the cost of the road fix is supposed to be recovered and then the toll stops. Ever heard of one that stop? For God's sake the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a toll road and was built, what, in the 1930's? In today's prices it would be a piddling amount so the original cost has been recovered over and oever again. But don't worry, be happy. You have toll roads in Victoria so you DO have the same problems. You just don't know about it and don't want to know. Sorry if I came over as scornful. I just get angry about this topic and I have lived in every State of Australia and often assume others have travelled too. Put it this way, I was born in Sydney and live north now. The last time, and I do mean the LAST time I went there by car I could not navigate my way across the bridge. They assume you know but before you know it you get a notice saying you failed to pay a toll, 2 tolls, 3 tolls. Ignorance of the tolls is no excuse apparently, it must be in our DNA. I do apologise for seeming scornful, it's how I feel about govts and pollies and it clearly comes through to individuals. I'll try to d better and I hope I haven't upset you too much.
Actually Adult, The exact quote he made was "No one will pay a cent more than they do now". And we haven't have we? We have paid mountains of dollars. But not one cent. He must have laughed himself silly after he said that. I agree entirely. If there is a God today, it is money. Just not a terribly merciful or generous God is it?
Prior to this Makedde, find out about his legal parameters, on rent increase percentages, via the landlord and tenant act/agreement (or whatever the Aussie equivalent is). The landlord may have special clauses, again via the government basically, to up the rent in certain circumstances, beyone what is a usually set percentage they are allowed to make increases. Upping the rent, to absorb his potential increased costs, still comes out of your pocket obviously.
I still don't have a bloody Smart Meter, lol. They were meant to install it a year ago and I am still waiting! The off peak period for them will probably be in the early hours of the morning. As if people are going to wash their clothes and vaccuum the floor at that time of morning just too save money. Also hear that people who have them aren't getting a bill. Some have waited a year with no bill in sight. They've even pestered the company about it they have been told there is no bill for them at all, then they get sent one and its for thousands of dollars!
Hey Mak I think the question we should be asking is WHY doesn't our government do something about this? Who runs the country? our government or these companies! They must all be in bed together imo.
And who's fault is that! If one million of us rallied at canberra for a few days i'm sure that her ministers would start asking questions. But alas we are sheep to be shorn, and deserve what we get. BBHHHAAA
