Launceston Chamber of Commerce

June 10 2010

Government's back flip on election promise unacceptable

Following its monthly board meeting yesterday, the Launceston Chamber of Commerce has called the Premier’s back flip on his election promise to cap power increases for households and small businesses at 5% as a deplorable practice. Lou Clark, Executive Officer said

Lou Clark, Executive Officer said ‘For the Premier to make such a specific election promise and abandon that promise within weeks of making it is unacceptable.’

Ms Clark said that ‘Tasmanian power prices have jumped more than 30 per cent in the past three years, with concerns electricity costs could soar even further now for many small businesses. Electricity is one of the highest running costs incurred by small to medium enterprises and at the end of the day these businesses will have no choice but to pass on some of this cost to consumers. At a time when business confidence is shifting and business is already keeping a close on eye on running costs this will provide yet another constraint to business growth and future employment opportunities’.

‘A back flip on this election promise by the Government is not acceptable to the business community in the current economic climate. There is no doubt that it will have a detrimental impact on small business in the Northern Tasmanian region’ said Ms Clark.

 
Media Inquiries Contact:

LCC: Lou Clark ph: 0419 326 023 or 03 6331 9364

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