Energy Fairness Bill Is Anything But
Big Government, over-regulation, deceptive politics, destruction of private companies and job losses of more than 1000 innocent workers, mark the Victorian Government’s latest achievement.
The passing of the harmless-sounding Energy Legislation Amendment (Energy Fairness) Bill 2021 will crush the private sector even further than current lockdowns.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said the Bill’s innocuous name clouded its intent.
“How could anyone oppose the Energy Fairness Bill? But as ever, the devil is in the detail,” Mrs McArthur told the Parliament.
The State Opposition’s proportionate amendments to the Bill were rejected.
It ends ‘high pressure sales tactics’ including door-to-door and phone energy sales of gas and electricity deals.
The Bill makes it a criminal act to knowingly, or recklessly, disconnect energy customers or to provide false or misleading information to the Essential Services Commission.
Mrs McArthur said companies have contacted her detailing the unnecessary force of the legislation at a time when current regulations and consumer law service the industry well, provide protections, cooling off periods, ‘do-not-knock’ stickers and Ombudsman oversight.
The industry has experienced a consistent reduction in customer complaints.
She said the rogue in this matter is the Victorian Government.
“I have no objection to prohibiting high-pressure sales tactics,” she said.
“But the outcome was prejudiced, the evidence limited and contradictory, the consultation non-existent, the notice period paltry.
“This is not high-pressure sales, it is high-pressure policy.
“It is a deeply unfair bill which uses a sledgehammer to crack a nut and in so doing will restrict legitimate business, discourage competition, limit consumer choice and wipe out the livelihoods of more than 1000 Victorians.”
Energy marketing companies were not contacted about the Bill and those seeking a chance to discuss the Bill’s impact were ignored.
Prior to the vote, the Prism Group’s Andrew Dennis, told Mrs McArthur that his sales and marketing business comprising 48 workers will be ‘out of work…with the stroke of a Minister’s pen.”
He said the staff are highly trained, have police checks and companies that fail the compliance standards are deregistered.
“What gets me is no one from the Labor government will speak with us, they won’t come and visit our operation, yet they will make decisions on our business,” Mr Dennis said.
25 per cent of consumers change their energy plans due to door-to-door sales and phone marketing.
Mrs McArthur said the Energy Minister’s desire for a more ‘reliable, sustainable and affordable and energy supply’ would be better served by extinguishing the toxic fire in the Victorian Big Battery at Moorabool.
“She should first look to energy generation, storage and transmission, not to regulating out of existence viable and legitimate businesses which add to consumer choice and employ many hundreds of honest and hardworking Victorians,” Mrs McArthur said.
09 August 2021