On 3 December 2010, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) wrote to representatives of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), the NSW Greens, and the Liberal/National Coalition in NSW, asking for clarification of their position on water and energy issues.

PIAC sent a letter to:

• The Minister for Water, the Hon Phil Costa MP (ALP)
• Ms Katrina Hodgkinson MP, Shadow Minister for Natural Resource Management (Liberal/National Coalition)
• Dr John Kaye MP (The NSW Greens)

The full text of the letter PIAC sent to these representatives is produced below. 

The response received from these representatives is attached (see above). 

The ALP and the Liberal/National Coalition have not yet responded.

Request for information prior to the NSW Election

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is committed to providing consumers and consumer advocates with information that allows them to be informed about issues, assistance measures and upcoming events that relate to water in NSW.

In line with this commitment, PIAC is writing to the Government, the Opposition and the Greens to request answers to the questions listed below.

It is intended that the answers provided will be publicly released in full on the PIAC website. This is designed to enable consumers to compare each party’s position on key areas of concern as we approach the election and the next term of government in NSW.

Rebates and Concessions

1. If elected, what do you propose to do to provide eligible NSW water consumers with access to water and sewerage rebates that are consistent in availability and amount, regardless of the consumer’s location and/or water provider?

2. What do you propose to do to make water and sewerage rebates more accessible for people who reside in residential parks who are in receipt of government benefits?

3. How will you ensure that there is greater compliance by residential park owners in issuing water bills in a manner that complies with the Residential Park Regulation 2006?

In order to make this information publicly available prior to the NSW Election, PIAC respectfully requests a response to these questions before 14 January 2011.

If you require any further information please contact Carolyn Hodge, Senior Policy Officer – Energy & Water Consumers Advocacy Program, via email (chodge@piac.asn.au) or by telephone on (02) 8898 6520.

Yours sincerely,

Edward Santow (pictured)

Chief Executive Officer, Public Interest Advocacy Centre

Read what the parties have to say about energy issues.