 |
CRAIG COMMENTS |
|
18 April 2005
It is disappointing that arguably the best politician in the National Party, Peter Hall MLC, has so badly missed the point of the National Electricity (Victoria) Bill that he is guilty of misleading the people who have trusted him over many years.
The Essential Services Commissioner is expected to pass on its all of its powers in relation to the regulation of electricity including retail price in 2006, contrary to Mr Hall’s recent claims in the press. This Bill hands state powers to a national regulator over which neither the Victorian Parliament nor the Essential Services Commissioner will have control.
Competition is supposed to bring prices down, but every dairy farmer he represents can tell him how the price of off-peak electricity has skyrocketed since the Kennett government, of which he was a member, privatised the electricity industry.
National Competition Policy states that consumers will eventually pay the full cost of the transmission and distribution of electricity. A term, "ringfencing", has been coined to describe the intention that country people will share these costs, but not city people. In addition, rural people bear the cost of the power loss in the transmission and distribution system.
Competition Policy is slowly squeezing the life out of the country. Just look at telephone charges.
Country people are now paying broadband prices for dial up internet, no matter how slow and spasmodic the service may be. The concept of value for money has been abandoned and privatisation means that country people pay what the big companies demand or go without.
Country businesses pay the same for a telephone service as those in the city who have 1,000 times the number of potential customers or clients within their local call zone.
No wonder the Country Party (Nationals), once proudly supported by the majority of country voters, has become a spent force.
The Nationals clearly do not understand the impact of the Bill. The next range of reforms are already in the pipeline and the Bill that the Nationals supported gives powers to city-centric governments to change the NEL and the powers of the national regulator at their whim and not the direction of the Victorian Parliament.
The Nationals have conveniently abrogated their obligations and ability to protect their constituents. Under the Bill, future changes will be passed through the South Australian Parliament and they will be able to disclaim any responsibility.
Apparently, the only competition that the Nationals do not support is at elections. They have shown they will do almost anything to avoid challenges from the Liberals, hoping their votes will help fend off the Independents. This was again highlighted last week with calls from Leader Peter Ryan demanding that the Liberal Party not stand against the National Party at the next state election. He should follow the example of his Commonwealth colleagues – if you can't beat them, join them. That's (National's) competition!
