Households Slugged As Financial Year Begins

ABC.net.au
The start of the new financial year will see sharp increases in a range of costs for New South Wales residents.

Electricity and water bills are set to rise steeply, costing the average household an extra $270 a year.

Off-street parking space levies in Sydney's business hubs are more than doubling, while anyone catching a taxi anywhere in the state can expect to pay more.

The Opposition's industry spokesman, Duncan Gay, says Premier Nathan Rees has broken his Budget promise of no tax increases.

"They're going to hit the people who can afford it least; they're going to hit pensioners and families," he said.

"Electricity up $200 a family per annum, Sydney Water $60 per annum, car parking levies up, ferry charges up, as is the waste levy.

"The charges just go up and up and the list goes on and on."

Public interest groups say the electricity price rises will inflate household bills by about 20 per cent and trigger more disconnections.