Page 1218 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 24 June 1992
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those people who set out to test government measures for their own selfish reasons. People who "try out" this scheme will find themselves staring at a financial penalty as well as disconnection.
This proposed legislation is a necessary and welcome addition to debt relief measures which are already in place in the Territory. It is an important reform. It signals this Government's continuing commitment to social justice in practice. With careful administration, the scheme will be a blessing for those Canberrans who are facing their hardest winter yet. Madam Speaker, I commend this Bill to the Assembly.
MS SZUTY (5.15): Madam Speaker, I am extremely pleased to be able to assist the passage of this very important piece of legislation, which once again gives Canberra a chance to demonstrate that it has compassion and concern for those people in our community who are suffering hardship, especially during the current recession and through continuing cold winters. It is not so long ago that the ACT was populated mostly by itinerants, people who came for a few years to advance their employment or political prospects. It was a place where the native born population was less than 20 per cent. The number of people who now call Canberra home is much greater than it was 15 or 20 years ago, and as a result our social mix is increasing. So when hard times hit the national capital and people lose their jobs there is no "home" to return to; we are all here, and we need to help each other. The Bill before us now gives us another chance to do this.
Much has been said in recent times about the harshness of Canberra's winter climate and the fact that in 1991 welfare agencies recorded a 40 per cent increase in calls for assistance. This year calls are already running at 30 per cent over last year's record. It seems fairly obvious to me that there is a need to recognise that the most disadvantaged people in Canberra are going to be unable to meet some of their commitments during this time of high unemployment and recognised high underemployment. Some people who will have cause to use the provisions of this Bill, once it is passed into law, will have little or no control over the rate at which they use the services deemed to constitute essential services. The housebound, through illness or poverty, are more reliant on their telephones for outside contact and use more fuel to keep their homes heated, lit and provided with hot water.
I read with interest the recommendations of the ACT Community Law Reform Committee, particularly the recommendation that, as ACT Electricity and Water will be the service provider most involved, secretariat support for the proposed Essential Services Review Committee should reside with that organisation. ACTEW has a high stake in this issue through unpaid bills. Figures supplied in the Law Reform Committee report show that in 1990-91 ACTEW had approximately 100,000 customers paying an average of $120 every two months for their electricity supply. Of more than 1,400 who defaulted on their accounts, 771 had their electricity supply cut off, then reconnected for a $10 fee, plus they then had to meet the outstanding payment; 440 customers paid late, following intervention by welfare agencies; and 1,227 paid when the collection officer called.
Altogether, this represents almost $400,000 collected from people who had not paid on time or made alternative arrangements. The figure appears large, as unpaid bills averaged between $160 and $180 per two-month period. This represents approximately 3.3 per cent of the bimonthly revenue from domestic
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