The State Government will fund the full cost of water and sewerage concessions. The decision by the State Government means that concessions will be on the water and sewerage bills when they arrive in mailboxes soon.
The concession in 2009-10 for eligible customers will be $130 and indexed thereafter.
The Premier David Bartlett said that no concession holder will be disadvantaged and no Local Government authority will be disadvantaged.
“I committed to this at Labor’s State Conference and I am delivering on this policy for all Tasmanians,” Mr Bartlett said.
In addition, the Government will leave pensioner rate remissions (PRR) maximum cap unchanged at $374 in 2009-10.
This means that many pensioners will receive a one off windfall this year.
A lower pensioner rate remission cap of $262 will now apply from 1 July 2010, instead of 1 July 2009, as was intended in the original legislation.
The Government will introduce amendments to the legislation currently before the Legislative Council in order to implement today’s decision.
The water and sewerage reforms will see improved economic, environmental and public health outcomes for all Tasmanians. Local Government will be the beneficiaries of the profits earned by the new water and sewerage corporations.
For answers to frequently asked questions about the water and sewerage reforms click here
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