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May 2nd, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda The Western Australian government is under pressure to ease the impact of ballooning utilities bills on poorer households in the state’s budget this month.
Labor Leader Mark McGowan has called on Premier Colin Barnett’s government to commit to funding the state’s Hardship Utility Grants Scheme (HUGS) beyond the current financial year.
Mr McGowan said the rising cost of living was the single largest issue facing West Australians.
It was important to continue the scheme, a financial crisis-support service designed to help households avoid having services disconnected.
“The Barnett government’s lack of support for HUGS shows it is completely out of touch and does not understand the financial pressures faced by working families,” Mr McGowan said in a statement.
“He must immediately commit to providing funding for the continuation of HUGS in the May budget.”
Mr McGowan said 16,159 people applied for help through the scheme last year, up more than 90 per cent compared to the previous year.
He said financial hardship was likely to spread, after the Barnett government flagged a five per cent increase in electricity prices and with gas utility Alinta intending to lift gas prices by at least eight per cent.
Mr Barnett is resisting pressure for a state government buyback of Alinta’s retail gas business in WA and says household utility bills must increase because of the rising cost of gas and accessing the pipeline network.
The state budget will be handed down on May 17.
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