Vic: Victorians face New Year's slug on fares, power

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2003
Vic: Victorians face New Year's slug on fares, power

Victorians face a giant New Year's headache with steep rises in public transport fares
and power prices coming into effect from tomorrow.

The government says the 10 per cent rise in fares -- about four times the rate of inflation
-- is essential to prevent service cutbacks.

Households will pay an extra $30 a year on the average gas bill of $600, and between
$4 and $16 more on the average electricity bill of $800.

But many will still have reason to celebrate with some 350,000 low-paid workers to
finally gain access to basic entitlements like redundancy pay and overtime.

Low-risk prisoners may also be pleased with a trial of a new system of home detention
that uses electronic bracelets to monitor them.

However, Victorians with banned handguns will find themselves on the wrong side of
the law when the government's firearms buy-back scheme ends tomorrow.

AAP RTV bp/dk/dl

KEYWORD: EVE VIC CHANGES (MELBOURNE)

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