http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/pm-blames-states-for-rocketing-bills-20120615-20exh.html

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has blamed state governments for rocketing power prices in South Australia and NSW.

The 18 per cent rises, to apply from July 1, are being driven by the carbon tax and in NSW the cost of upgrading the grid - the "poles and wires" part of the network.

Ms Gillard acknowledged the role played by the carbon tax but accused state governments of failing to help families.

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"The big mass of the costs, coming out of the new investment in poles and wires - something done by state government - doesn't come with real assistance for families and that's a matter for state governments to address," she told reporters in Sydney.

The prime minister also blamed the states for delaying the network upgrades.

"We've seen considerable rises over the last few years, largely because of underinvestment in the capital stock," she added.

"And that investment then having to be made quickly and then flowing through into power prices and bills."

Average household bills were rising by $3 a week in NSW and families would receive an average of $10 per week in government assistance, Ms Gillard said.

The South Australian Essential Services Commission will now launch an investigation into both the retail and wholesale cost of power.

Announcing the price rises on Friday, it said the carbon tax would add about $70 to the typical local household's annual bill.

A bigger component of the increase was the cost of the solar feed-in tariff scheme instigated by the state government.

"That scheme has led to a significant increase in the uptake of solar panels in South Australia and the cost of the scheme is effectively met by all electricity customers through higher network prices," the commission said.

Meanwhile, the Coalition said scrapping the carbon tax would be the first move it would make to bring power prices under control

For the lefties who are mentally challenged - she accused the state governments of delaying spending on infrastructures

The current SA government is Labor

In NSW - the LIBs just took over

Gillard's that desperate she's cannibalising her own Party

Maqqa wrote on Jun 16^th, 2012 at 8:10am:

For the lefties who are mentally challenged - she accused the state governments of delaying spending on infrastructures The current SA government is Labor In NSW - the LIBs just took over Gillard's that desperate she's cannibalising her own Party

JUST took over? Fatty has been premier for a year now! Done nothing.

Except sold off some assets at rock bottom prices.

And allowed gun wielding nutters into the national parks.

Sent the state into debt.

Sounds like he's had enough time to start wrecking the place!

Maqqa wrote on Jun 16^th, 2012 at 8:10am:

For the lefties who are mentally challenged - she accused the state governments of delaying spending on infrastructures The current SA government is Labor In NSW - the LIBs just took over Gillard's that desperate she's cannibalising her own Party

If the government is stuffing it they should cop it no matter what the side. As for O'Fail, he has had long enough to show that he is not going to cut it, his government have done nothing of any note other than go backwards.

Maqqa wrote on Jun 16^th, 2012 at 8:10am:

For the lefties who are mentally challenged - she accused the state governments of delaying spending on infrastructures The current SA government is Labor In NSW - the LIBs just took over Gillard's that desperate she's cannibalising her own Party

Your argument may have some merit, if it wasn't for the fact that state and federal governments have been blaming each other since federation .....

Gist wrote on Jun 16^th, 2012 at 10:43am:

Maqqa wrote on Jun 16th, 2012 at 8:10am: For the lefties who are mentally challenged - she accused the state governments of delaying spending on infrastructures The current SA government is Labor In NSW - the LIBs just took over Gillard's that desperate she's cannibalising her own Party JUST took over? Fatty has been premier for a year now! Done nothing. Except sold off some assets at rock bottom prices. And allowed gun wielding nutters into the national parks. Sent the state into debt. Sounds like he's had enough time to start wrecking the place!

wow... an entire year? and of course NSW wasnt in debt a year ago right? the power system wasnt a mess then, right?

idiot.

longweekend58 wrote on Jun 19^th, 2012 at 6:05pm:

Gist wrote on Jun 16th, 2012 at 10:43am: Maqqa wrote on Jun 16th, 2012 at 8:10am: For the lefties who are mentally challenged - she accused the state governments of delaying spending on infrastructures The current SA government is Labor In NSW - the LIBs just took over Gillard's that desperate she's cannibalising her own Party JUST took over? Fatty has been premier for a year now! Done nothing. Except sold off some assets at rock bottom prices. And allowed gun wielding nutters into the national parks. Sent the state into debt. Sounds like he's had enough time to start wrecking the place! wow... an entire year? and of course NSW wasnt in debt a year ago right? the power system wasnt a mess then, right? idiot.

You are correct insofar as NSW wasn't in debt. Now it is.

The power system was no different to what it is now except that it hadn't been decided to be sold at bargain basement prices. Fatty has done nothing to improve it. As I'm pretty sure you will agree, Fatty is in charge not Labor. It's his job to find ways to improve things, not Labors.

Also, you shouldn't sign your posts as "idiot". You're not that smart.

Look @ the source. the age. In question time yesterday the acting prime minister was saying that all the states were doing it not any particular states. The age has obviously left that lil bit out.

SOB

A lame attempt by Gillard to try to deflect the blame for the prices rises away from her toxic carbon tax that she promised us we'd never have to live with...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMVc0IbtyAQ