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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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Danny
Danny from NSW commented:

Re last couple of comments: Robert, I totally agree, giving $200 to newly weds for counselling (they may or not even need) is on a par with past Labor money wasting stupidities and this money could be spent on so many other more worthwhile purposes (would be interested to know which one of Tony Abbott's otherwise sensible Ministry came up with this nonsense). Also agree with Dina, get rid of the baby bonus, the majority of it is probably being blown on superfluous items not even associated with the new infant and only encourages professional breeders already on the welfare band wagon, ie single parents pension, family allowance etc (you know the ones with 4 kids to several different fathers ) to keep pumping out kids as a form of income (sorry to be blunt but true) Lastly, compliments on recently advertised latest Abbott Govt initiative, revamp the Work for the Dole program. It is hight time this was brought in and properly enforced in an effort to deter serial dole bludgers, some of whom come from 3rd generation of welfare recipients who have never, and never intend to even try to find a job. There has to be a disincentive for people like this who never turn up for scheduled job interviews and are rorting the system and in these tough times, with welfare cuts now on the cards (due primarily to former waste and largess of the past 6 years of Labor Government) I would rather see serial dole bludgers, illegal boat people determined to stay on a lifetime of welfare and other similar parasites lose welfare payments, than aged pensioners who have worked all their lives and paid taxes in this country. 

Steve
Steve from QLD replied to Danny:

Yes hand outs for all odd programs, should be reassessed the country can't afford to be throwing good money at hair brained schemes. I even made my 89 year old mum a wooden replica gun and asked her to hand it too the bank teller, at least now she has a air conditioned room, free heating so she will warm in winter, CCTV so she will be constantly watched over,free dental, free meals three times a day, free medical, visitor twice a week, which is about four times what she gets now, plus free tv, magazines and crosswords to keep her mind busy, she can even do a degree in law for free if she wanted or remembered why! I really do believe we need to look after our elderly who have given to our communities over many years and not to those who have arrived on a scam wanting the world as a right of this good country, sorry if you haven't put in, you get nothing out! Oh and another thing nobody should be able to send money over seas whilst on a Australian pension! Times up for all the scams. 

Robert
Robert from NSW commented:

Come on Mr. Abbott. Giving $200.00 to newly weds so they can get counselling is a typical Labor money waste exercise. Why dont you give it to pensioners who struggle to make ends meet. 

Theo
Theo from NSW replied to Robert:

Hello, I remember in one of Don Lane shows he had a panel discussing marriage. Among the panelists was a Catholic priest, who in his dialogue said "The Italians do know how to marry"... this followed laughter and ironical comments. He explained to the audience that he did not mean the act of man and woman getting together, but the understanding of responsibilities and obligations of one another and providing a home. In that time the 60"s, 70's and 80's, Italians, Greeks, Yugoslavs were the foreigners and regarded not the best of citizens. So... saying all that I guess is a good thing young couples to be given counselling. What I am concerned is what are they going to counselled on? 50-50 on divorce? That's what we inherited from Lionel Murphy, remember him? 

Sarah
Sarah from NSW commented:

This is another attempt by the government to take money from people who have worked all their lives to accumulate some assets. This is money earned and spent wisely over decades. I'm totally against including the family home in the assets test. Next they'll be dipping into the superannuation we have been forced to pay. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Norm fROM sYDNEY THE FAMILY HOME SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHED. WE HAVE PAYED ALL OUR TAXES WHILE WE ARE WORKING,SO WHEN WE RETIRE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE PENSION FULL OR HALF. PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITED. 

Dina
Dina from QLD commented:

Stop the baby bonuses! !!!!! 

Dina
Dina from QLD commented:

Privatization of the Australian post is the sooner the better! It is the contractors who are stirring a fuss. Even ones a week mail is enough, I am happy with that, or the tree day week.I really don't care. 

Roslyn
Roslyn from QLD replied to Dina:

It's already privatized. Our Australia Post Offices are franchised out. 

Paul
Paul from NSW commented:

Retirement age is getting further away all the time. I they want to keep us working, when you turn 60, how about half rate tax, I would keep going for that and they would not have to pay me medical pension or anything else. How much would that save in welfare payments???? How many of us would keep working for 1/2 rate taxes for over 60's. I suppose that would be toooooo easy for the so called intelligent people. 

Steve
Steve from QLD replied to Paul:

Hey Paul great idea, either that to help top up supa or 60+ears go/stay on a pension in near poverty, in this case I for one would keep working and stay off pension for another ten years! 

Martin
Martin from QLD replied to Paul:

I'm a rigger in the construction industry currently working 12 hours a day and 6 every Saturday. I'm starting to feel it now but just can't wait to see a site where all the riggers, doggers, boiler makers and associated tradesmen are all over 65. What will that do for productivity. It's a joke. The government just wants you to work until you die. Just don't die at work. 

Geoff
Geoff from NSW commented:

Let us 'oldies' put pressure on the pay-TV companies to give us a better deal. My wife is over 60 and I am 70 and neither of us watch any of the cartoon channels, or the music or movie channels - why should we have to pay for something which is NEVER used. I rang Foxtel last week and was told that they CAN'T remove these channels from the Essentials Package. My proposal was to dlete 15 channels that we get now and replace them with eight Lifestyle channels. But no. When I suggested that rather than CAN'T is is more like WON'T, the guy at the other end said 'No we can't'. And when I offered to send someone in to show them that they COULD, he got a bit hostile and threatened to hang up. It is after all only a computer program and any programmer worth his salt could effect this change. Power to the people. Geoff NSW 

Dina
Dina from QLD replied to Geoff:

Get rid of foxtel no one told you to get it in the first place? 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Dina:

Dina I am sure Geoff will grateful for your suggestion! I think many people including me would agree with him. In any case it has no bearing on means testing the family home. 

Beverley
Beverley from NSW commented:

Re children being liable for parents medicals after death? Dont believe you can throw a blanket over this! TOO MANY VARIABLES!! What if the "child" is disabled and now left to fend for themselves? or institutionalised? Who would stand up for them to UNDERSTAND what was expected of them? What if they were sub teens? What if there were "blended" families involved? Would only those fathered by or mothered by the deceased bear the costs? What if . . . can go on forever and only the lawyers will get rich sorting THAT mess out! 

Beverley
Beverley from NSW commented:

re family homes . . . whether elderly couples or singles . . . may variables in this subject. (1) Put them in apartments/downsize? Where to? (2) Many older folks bought their homes many years ago when values were much lower in certain areas. The fact they are now worth much more is through no doing of their own! (3) Realising on a family home, paying taxes, RE fees and removalist costs, then using whats left to buy elsewhere relocate/downsize whatever - (probably miles away from original base with doctors, neighbours and all things familiar), what is the benefit? (4) INCLUDING value of a home to calculate pension? THAT logic benefits those renting (for whatever reason!) no assets or capital so eligible for FULL pension and ALL benefits - (4a) and then does someone living in a family home passed down and now worth a million receive NO Pension? Sure if the home is sold then the realised funds are considered in calculating pensions. But please lets NOT breed a race of people willing to rent and collect off the government all their lives. Is it not possible THAT is the whole idea? Get the majority dependent? then cut off supply? THAT keeps them poor and begging and willing to do anything to survive. Now where have we seen that picture before? Agree with previous writers - quit with the "for life" pensions, offices, staff, cars, travel, pensions immediately they are outed for the politicians and government bureaucrats. Overseas aid? Sure but let it be pro-rata of $'s to per head of population or calculated similarly. We are only 23 million after all. Whatever happened to "Charity begins at home" We have homeless, sick and needy RIGHT HERE! . . . Stop the rot NOW before it is too late . . . and stop the welfare mentality before it chokes us. 

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