Up, up, prices are up… in 2017 Children Young People and Families

Up, up, prices are up… in 2017

VCOSS is warning Victorians to be alert to a series of price hikes due to take effect in 2017.

The cost of many household essentials and basic services—including public transport, energy, water, postage and some council rates—will jump in the New Year.

VCOSS CEO Emma King said some price rises are understandable, but excessive increases or price gouging is unacceptable.

“It might seem like just a couple of dollars here or there, but these increases add up across a household budget.”

“A record 726,900 Victorians now live below the poverty line. Many people are living week to week, or going without.”

“The last thing struggling Victorians need is another whack to the hip pocket.”

Ms King said service providers should be able to justify every dollar increase “just as households have to justify every dollar they spend”.

“If people are struggling to pay their bills they should talk to service providers directly about hardship policies or payment plans,” she said,

“Service providers need genuine, compassionate and flexible hardship policies for people who are doing it tough.”

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Clean grabs from VCOSS CEO Emma King on 2017 price increases.
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