| WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett (pictured) has sought to deflect attention from yesterday's move by the State Government to hike electricity prices, saying he would seek to scrap bonuses for the chiefs of WA's publicly-owned power utilities. Although the Government has flagged a review of the pay-scale of top bureaucrats before, Mr Barnett gave the idea new life saying soaring power executive pay packets ~ following the 2006 split of Western Power ~ was partly to blame for electricity increases. "The previous Government put in various incentives and profit bonuses," he said. "I don't think that is something appropriate in government employment, so those characteristics will be taken out in future contracts." Yesterday the Government approved price increases that will see household power bills rise by about $220 this year and gas will cost families an average of $35 more. Electricity prices, including for small business, will rise 7.5% next month and 10% from July as the Government tries to bring WA's power tariffs ~ the nation's cheapest ~ in line with the true cost of producing electricity. Gas bills will also jump about 7% from April for households and small businesses State wide except in Albany, where a 10% increase applies. |
