Posted on: 27 April 2022
South Australian households are on the fast-track to hip pocket pain with massive rises in State Government fees if Labor Treasurer Stephen Mullighan chooses to pass on the full impact of today’s shocking inflation rate in the upcoming budget in June.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data released today revealed inflation rose 4.7% over the 12 months to the March 2022 quarter for South Australia – the highest since 2008.
Shadow Treasurer Matt Cowdrey said water bills, MetroCard (public transport) passes, motor vehicle licence fees, vehicle registration, tradie licence fees and others could soar.
“The Labor Government must act and assure South Australians that crippling fee increases won’t be passed on to households, many who are already struggling with rising cost of living pressures,” he said.
“Cost of living pressures impact not only households but small South Australian businesses that are continuing to rebuild as the state reaches the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Mr Mullighan must also rule out using today’s inflation numbers as the basis for fees and charges increases in Labor’s upcoming budget.
“Labor’s promise – which is yet to be honoured – to double the cost-of-living concession doesn’t even come close to doing enough.
“And what about other South Australians? Does Mr Mullighan just expect them to bear the brunt of significant increases?
“Where is Labor’s plan to ease cost of living pressures? Mr Mulligan’s ideas cupboard is looking very bare and that should have South Australians worried.”
Mr Mullighan has previously expressed a desire to tie fees and charges increases to the Treasury indexation rate of which inflation is a major component.