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News$700k worth of savings tips from the government
$700k worth of savings tips from the government

$700k worth of savings tips from the government

Tags: Energy Information
Last updated by Someone on

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you would have noticed all the talk about energy prices. If you have been off the grid (pun intended), there’s no hiding from your energy bill, which will find you eventually. 

And so will the Federal Government’s latest $700,000 ad campaign!

Launched this month, the Powering Forward Campaign reportedly cost tax-payers $300,000 for 60 seconds of airtime during the AFL & NRL Grand Finals, and as much as $700,000 in fees to a Melbourne ad agency.

There's some useful information buried in there, but it's hidden behind propaganda pushing the government's energy policy credentials.

What do you think of the campaign?

Our take? The website contains some useful info for people wanting to save on power bills, for example it links to the Energy Made Easy comparison site and the Victorian Switchon site to compare offers.

It also contains energy efficiency tips for households, which can be handy.

But all that useful stuff is buried behind the silly “powering forward” slogan and some bumph about the Government’s Snowy Hydro 2.0 and gas reservation policies.

They’re important, but we’d like to see the moneysaving info up front and centre!

Here’s something else you can do to save.

A couple of months back, the Fiftyup Club started our Power-Up Campaign,  which now boasts a staggering 50,000 registrations nationally That tells us that you do want to do something about energy prices even if it’s just to send a message to power companies that enough is enough.

While Australia may rank second in the world for quality-of-life, we rate first in the world for the highest energy prices. Data from the Carbon + Energy Markets' MarkIntell service says we’re ahead of Germany, Denmark and Italy with 4 Australian states in the top ten (click here to see the list).

This despite Australia having every energy resource available in the world including coal, wind, solar, nuclear and sea-water hydro power.

What can you do? It’s as easy as picking up the phone, calling your energy retailer and asking for a better deal. Don’t take no for an answer. The energy market has never been so competitive and you can get results, with many members reporting savings in the hundreds of dollars.

Click here to see the latest Fiftyup Club energy offers, extended for a limited time only


 

 

Originally posted on .

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Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

I would like to have the system of green slip changed for the Fifty and Over age group so that you only need to be covered per person and not per vehicle, as you can only drive one car at a time, whether it is yours or your partners. The drivers between the ages of fifty and sixty five, are usually the most cautious and logical. 

Bob
Bob from NSW commented:

I'm hoping this isn't just another fab marketing scheme by someone wanting to get rich at our expense. I'm also hoping I'm not inundated with spam Marketing emails for goods and services that don't interest me. I've got enough junk hitting my Inbox already. Hopefully our buying power en-mass will reap lower costs and better products with "us" in mind - without a whole heap of proviso's that try to lock us in. That would be very annoying. Cynical? Absolutely! But regardless.... hoping this might actually work. :) 

Robert
Robert from NSW replied to Bob:

hey bob just looking through messages, I also agree but I mark my crap as junk and it seems to go to junk file one message that looks like junk gets deleted all of it. I am a pessimist we will all see in time and if it is what you say we can unsubscribe... 

Bob
Bob from NSW replied to Robert:

Same here Robert, I have an effective spam filter and I actively manage junk emails. It's just that even legitimate contacts seem to think that because I signed up, they can send whatever mail suits them. As you said, if it turns out to be a rort, we can always cancel this account. However, as 2GB supports it, I'm confident we're on a winner. Thanks for the reply. 

Fred
Fred from NSW replied to Bob:

Go Bob, you speak our fears and aspirations in this endeavour. CUI BONO 'to whose benefit?' Will this club deliver our well documented needs? 

Bob
Bob from NSW replied to Fred:

Well Fred.... we aren't being inundated with tempting offers yet. I'd have figured by now some savvy companies would be mobilising to be first-cab-off-the-rank and take advantage of this group. All I've seen to date is a stale old offer to swap to another power provider. I'm already on a 2 year deal, so I'm not moving. Besides, it's the same deal you can get as an individual of any age. It's not a "special" deal for this group. Anyone can get it. So why is it even being presented to us? My understanding was that specific products or packages would be delivered to "us" tailored for our needs and circumstances. All I've seen so far is stale offers available to anyone, being hashed up all over again - with the implication that it's a special deal. But it isn't. I'll keep coming back to see what else is offered, but I'm not holding my breath. 

Daniel
Daniel from NSW commented:

Would like to see more flexibility for fifty ups, greater discounts given our less risky nature, better ability to pay and be provided with features better suited to our category. 

Marie
Marie from NSW commented:

I would like to see self funded retirees over 65 receive the same benefits from the government as those receiving a pension 

Bob
Bob from NSW replied to Marie:

Agree. Perhaps some recognition of our hours of volunteer work (which saves the Govt millions) in the form of an increase of $5 to our tax free threshold for every hour of volunteer work we do - or something like that. 

cheryl
cheryl from NSW commented:

Grey power is strong if mobilised. I'm sick of getting treated like I do not exist. Everything is aimed at 18-45yr olds. Lots of people of over 50yrs age group are however weakened by illness or disease and the politicians only listen to people who complain. I live in what used to be a staunch one political party area full of over 50 yr olds. The government reps did nothing for the area, people are finally wakeing up. We have power let's lobby! I would like the club to lobby to reduce skin cancer treatment costs. We are the group who are now suffering the most from this illness. The costs are astronomical. Dermatologist charged my husband $415 for a visit and skin biopsy. Because of item numbers Medicare don't pay on a biopsy. Why are you referred to a specialist if not to determine by a biopsy if you have skin cancer? Then pathology costs on biopsy $270, on which the medical funds pay little rebate.Then had day surgery $1,400 for the skin cancer found. These costs are aside from ointments etc. That was for one skin cancer. I've been paying out for the last 10 yrs this exhorbitant rate. Australia is one of the biggest countries for skin cancer patients. The Dermatologists surgery is always full of 50 plus age group of people and clearly government hasn't been pushed to regulate the fees. Other cancers are supported by Government subsidies on treatment why not this one?. 

Robert
Robert from NSW replied to cheryl:

Hi Cheryl I feel for you that we have to put our a view's forward to our government from us over 50's that our medicare rebates are insufficient we need to get a bit back so we can live the quality of life we have left. Both Governments we have and have had do not look at us as being useful anymore, so we have to let them know we are and we have paid our dues in the past we are moral citizens , why aren't they? , refund our medical rebates back instead of screwing us..... 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to Robert:

Robert: Please read my reply to Cheryl - I think it could also apply to you. 

Daryl
Daryl from NSW replied to Henry:

Do you really think Canberra cares what we want . It's all about what they can get out of us ,it's all about money to them I doubt if any of them have done a hard days physical work in there lives to make a quid. . We have all passed our use by date we don't have enough working years for them to invest in us because they won't make a big enough return back on there investment . To all those looking for Respect it doesn't exist anymore . It's very sad indeed 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to Daryl:

Daryl: No I don't think Canberra gives one iota about us. This is why we must seek our own representation there. This is The Seniors Party (www.seniorsparty.org) main aim. Once there we will be heard. This club has reached a membership of 30 thousand, could you imagine if the party reaches one third of this number (10 thousand)? They would hear us loud and clear and all of a sudden we will become the VIP's we should be now. I don't know how old you are, but I am 67 and for the life of me I am not going to sit here and accept the way those monsters over there think of us or how they treat us. Come and join the party, together we can only try - DON'T GIVE UP, please! 

Daryl
Daryl from NSW replied to Henry:

Hey Henry I am 54 and I have had a hard life and because of Canberra and it's greed my life will just continue to get harder .Thanking you for your reply , Regards , Daryl . 

Daryl
Daryl from NSW replied to Henry:

G day Henry we'll I have just joined the Seniors Party took your advice so one more member on board .If there is any role at some stage which I can help out in please don't hesitate to contact . All the best , Daryl . 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to cheryl:

Cheryl: I agree 100% with you. This club will get the discount they promised if any by the sheer number of members they have managed to attract. Now, what we need now is representation in Canberra to turn those needs into policies to be put forward for voting. I found such party, it's called The Seniors Party (www.seniorsparty.org) - free membership for the first year and they are ready to listen to yours and my needs to do something about it. Perhaps you may wish to look at their website, I did and they convinced me. Good luck! 

Frances
Frances from NSW commented:

I would like to see a more fairer deal for singles re having to pay the same as a couple as in twin-share. 

Anna
Anna from NSW commented:

I hope to become more informed regarding choices and options in goods services and products to decrease costs maximize value Without compromising on quality or availability due to prohibitive costs 

margaret
margaret from NSW commented:

Margaret from Guildford would like to know why woolworths don't sell reg unleaded petrol. 

Beatrice (Betty)
Beatrice (Betty) from NSW commented:

Recognition for all the hard work and taxes paid , for the over fifties that choose to continue to work to be less of a burden on the Government. For companies to realise that we have more experience on the job front than the young ones coming into the work force, and to give us a chance to impart our knowledge to the younger generation. 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to Beatrice (Betty):

Betty: There is a company in the USA that employs solely seniors: they don't take a single day off, they contribute not only their time but their expertise to this company. I wish there was such a company here in Australia. The problem is they (politicians) see us as a burden, the forgotten era, the has beens, etc. I found a party, it's called The Seniors Party 9www.seniorsparty.org) that is aiming at have representation in Canberra to show those ones over there we do exist, we are not a burden to society, we have contributed for years and years, etc. This club will definitely give us the discounts: they have so many members. The Seniors Party (I believe) will transform our needs into policies and this is something we badly need, wouldn't you say so? 

John
John from NSW commented:

Hopefully be recognised for our contribution to society 

Henry
Henry from NSW replied to John:

John: We need to be represented in Canberra to convince those politicians over there they need to think twice before they brush us off. I found The Seniors Party (www.seniorsparty.org) that is aiming at exactly that. It's about time we get represented over there to have people that will turn our needs into policies so they can become reality. 

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