Premier O’Farrell needs to reverse his decision to slug motorists an extra $500 per year and delay implementing a ban on unleaded petrol for at least 12 months, Opposition Leader John Robertson said today.

“Barry O’Farrell has betrayed the mums and dads of NSW he promised to help with the rising costs of living,” Mr Robertson said today. 

“The Premier’s decision to ban unleaded petrol will see up to 746,000 motorists and a further 92,000 motorcyclists pay an extra $500 per year at the petrol pump.

“This price hike will hit those who can least afford it – pensioners and families who can’t afford to buy a new car. 

“Barry O’Farrell should do the right thing and announce an immediate reprieve for families. 

“Barry O’Farrell is ignoring the advice of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the Crown Solicitor and his own Energy Department who say this is a bad idea and will push up prices.

“The ACCC has already advised the O’Farrell Government that a ban on unleaded petrol will have ‘adverse pricing consequences for motorists’.

“Even the Energy Minister advised that based on available information, the Government should not proceed with a ban on regular unleaded fuel.

“To make matters even worse, the O’Farrell Government has tried to cover up these price increases and ordered petrol companies not to publicise the looming ban on unleaded fuel.

“For more than one month, the O’Farrell Government sat on information that would have warned up to 838,000 motorists their fuel bills were about to skyrocket. 

“The Premier should come out today and announce that he will listen to expert advice and delay any ban on regular unleaded petrol for a minimum of 12 months.”

Summary of O’Farrell fee and price hikes in 2012:

• o   Preschool fee increases of up to $40 per day;
• o   Public transport fares up 5.4 per cent – for example, weekly train tickets between $1 and $3 higher (weekly Parramatta to City fare to cost $104 more annually);
• o   Cost of buying first home $10,000 to $20,000 higher – due to removal of stamp duty tax concession;
• o   TAFE fee increases – for example, cost of Advanced Diploma up from $1528 to $1570;
• o   Foster carers’ allowance slashed – parents of 16 and 17 year olds to lose $212.70 per fortnight;
• o   Electricity prices to rise from July 1 – 10 per cent rise for Energy Australia, 9.5 per cent rise for Country Energy and 2 per cent rise for Integral Energy customers; and
• o   Water bills to rise from July 1 – average household to fork out $969 more over four years if Sydney Water’s submission is approved by IPART in March 2012.