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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 QLD commented:

What an idiot! Easy to say work longer when you can take you super at any time you feel like leaving parliament! The closer I get to retirement the further any my super gets? When politicians take the same conditions they impose on their constituents, I'll shut up! Until then they can piss off with their bullshit about working longer, they can leave our super alone and they can start to appreciate the fact we have been paying out taxes for 40, 50 and 60 years etc! 

russell
russell from QLD commented:

Why Anonymous, what you say is correct, but grow a spine & put your name on your statements & be proud of your individual thoughts that you want to share. 

Paul
Paul from QLD commented:

No way. I am 64 and have worked every year for 47 years. When is enough enough?? Why do I need to work longer, so the bludgers I have already supported all this time while I have worked hard and paid my taxes, can get free money from me and the Government to continue to bludge and abuse the system.....Sorry! Wake up Australia. 

Gail
Gail from QLD replied to Paul:

I agree. I have worked all my life and look forward to retirement. Look at the younger ones who haven't contributed to society in any way re taxes. Train therefore the work force and cut back on centrelink payments. 

Paul
Paul from QLD replied to Gail:

Yes. I am retired but work 2 nights a week at a volunteer at an organization that supports people in crisis. I do get sick of people calling in and telling me they are on support pensions of all kinds and assisted housing, while they tell me the Govt does not give them enough and cannot pay their bills! Funny thing is you can hear them in the background lighting up a fag and telling me of their gambling and/or alcohol addictions. Makes you think heh!? 

Shona
Shona from QLD commented:

re: reduced bills for pensioners - my water bills are ridiculously high, not because of usage but because of connection/access fees etc. can't these be dropped or reduced drastically for pensioners? I'm happy to pay for the water I use but I reckon I've more than paid for my share of maintenance or whatever these charges are for over the years. what do you think? 

ian
ian from NSW replied to Shona:

shona in nsw we get a very generous pensioner discount from the waterboard. I don't know if it is the same Qld, make a phone call you might be surprised. ian 30 jan 2014 

chris
chris from NSW commented:

Yes i agree somehow the thinking has to change. Maybe i have been lucky but i have been able to secure a job and even now at 75 i reduced my working to 2 days a week, it keeps my mind active 

Ann
Ann from QLD replied to chris:

Good on you Chris. :) 

Christine
Christine from QLD commented:

To Richard, I so agree. Easier said than done. As an over fifty wishing to work I apply for jobs, mostly leaving my date of birth off of applications, but mentioning I am mature. I'm sure that word is doing me no good. It is the attitude that needs to be changed. It is alright for pollies to make these comments as they have jobs. Maybe we should make them walk in the shoes of their constituents before we confirm them in their jobs. Most places have a trial period.( the escape clause) 

Ann
Ann from QLD replied to Christine:

Hi Christine, I saw an article in the paper a month or so ago and the journalist asked ' Has anyone asked employers if they want older people working for them? I think the consensus would be 'No'. Government agencies may differ slightly but others not so much. 

Richard
Richard from NSW commented:

"Keeping older people in the workforce longer" is an easy statement to make, & may be possible and / or beneficial for some, but it is easier said than done. In some professions it would be difficult / impossible, for example 65+ brick layers or truck drivers I don't think so. And what about the rampant discrimination about employing people over 50 let alone at older ages, 65 years plus. For this to work there would have to be a lot of re-training, and a major shift in perception by employers. If you have a solid job / career it is easy to work well past 50, but lose your job or career at about that age & it is very difficult for many to find another full time job. The Government / community need to bring pressure to bear to change these attitudes. 

Dennis
Dennis from QLD replied to Richard:

Your pretty well spot on Richard. I worked until I was 67 at carpentry and cabinet making and I don't mind saying it physically hurt for the last few years. Lose your job around 50 in this industry and you won't get another unless you go self employed. Most of the ideas for longevity in the workforce come from people who sit in their comfy airconditioned offices and could keep on doing that until they die. They have no concept of what it takes to keep going at the senior levels of a physically hard trade. Self managed pensions are going to be good later down the track as the superannuation kicks in (If you have any left by the time the sharks finish with it) but the aged pension is only just adequate and does not allow for any major medical bills. Having fought off Oesophageal Cancer 7 months ago and won has depleted my meagre savings and now having learnt I have prostate cancer is going to really kill what is left. So this opens the topic for the health system that is rudely and literally killing us. 

Ann
Ann from QLD replied to Richard:

I agree with you Richard. They just have 'knee jerk' solutions/ suggestions. What's needed is some sort of conference where they get people in the community, technology experts, employer / small business representatives, aged care representatives, Centrelink pension experts etc together and try to 'nut' out a solution or a way to do things better. 

Janelle
Janelle from QLD commented:

Ageism should not exist. Where would our country be without those older than ourselves? 

Fiona
Fiona from QLD commented:

My mum and dad have worked since they were 17 my dad has since passed away and mum is 75 and on the pension. My parents have contributed to society never bludged - personally I think senior citizens should be recognised for their contribution to this country and not treated like pests. I don't mind if my taxes go towards paying their old age pension because if it wasn't for their sacrifice Australia would not be the great country it is today. 

June
June from QLD replied to Fiona:

Fiona you have hit the nail on the head. We older ones started work as young teens and kept on working to buy our homes and cars on our own with out hand outs from the government. In fact our family we on the first boats out to Australia and paid our way. Did it hard with no shopping centres to browse. 

Robyn
Robyn from QLD commented:

Hi all, just joined, I've given up work due to illness, but not old enough to qualify for any benefits. Hubby still working, we're just making ends meet. Hope I get some good ideas from this page. Cheers! 

June
June from QLD commented:

I am amazed at the young people today thinking they are discovering some thing new. I had and raised 6 kids and I purchased in bulk, read the specials in the paper to get all the specials and then hit the road. It is not a new concept. 

Robyn
Robyn from QLD replied to June:

Yes June, and they think they'd die if they didn't have dishwasher and washing machine, not to mention the largest TV possible. I just love the 'When I was young" stories I tell them ... LOL 

June
June from QLD replied to Robyn:

Hi Robyn: I g et. Cash back on all my purchases but not allowed to say on here about it. 

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