Citizens’ agenda: Hammond voters need cost of living relief

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It costs a lot just to exist in this day and age.

Between large-scale economic issues and a difficult decade in the electorate of Hammond – given the TFI fire, COVID-19, a flood and a drought – many locals are doing it tough.

Keith Durham, a bus driver from White Sands, said his family was doing okay, but he worried about his teenaged kids and their mates, among others in our communities.

Juniors, trainees and apprentices were all on low wages, but the cost of insurance, electricity and petrol was only increasing.

Interest rates were making life hard for homeowners, too.

“People are living on the edge,” Mr Durham said.

“We’re pretty frugal, but we’ve been married for 18 years and this is the first time we’ve been in debt for anything (since buying a house).”

Big-picture economic issues were more the responsibility of the federal government, he guessed, but he hoped South Australia’s next government could help – and he’s not alone.

The high cost of living, especially power bills and groceries, was the second most frequently mentioned issue in Murray Bridge News’ election survey this year.

“We struggle to simply scrape together enough money for weekly rent,” one 21-year-old Murray Bridge resident told us.

“Why do I need to pay $5000 to register my prime mover and $5000 for land tax?” asked another local.

So we put the question to candidates.

If elected, how will you help locals with the cost of living, including power bills and grocery prices?

Simone Bailey, Labor

I know that household budgets are under pressure due to global economic forces. I’m proud to be part of a (Peter) Malinauskas team that is directly addressing cost of living, including for Murray Bridge residents. If elected, we will make it easier to get around via public transport. By introducing the Metro Card with Metro Card prices, we’ll bring the cost of bus fares from $24 down to $4.55 for a standard trip. We will make it more affordable to travel to the city for certain medical appointments by expanding eligibility for PATS. We’ve already done a lot. We’ve doubled cost-of-living concessions for eligible South Australians, expanded the Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme, and made public transport free for seniors and cheaper for students. Labor is the only party that has real solutions to help you make ends meet. By strengthening our economy whilst making it fairer, we are delivering a more secure future.

Ruby Eckermann, Animal Justice

The Animal Justice Party understands that reducing financial pressure on households will improve both human and animal welfare, so it is a high priority. Our headline policy right now is the introduction of “Veticare”, a Medicare-style system to subsidise veterinary costs, reducing financial strain on pet owners. Western Australia is seriously considering this system and SA should be next. If the AJP is fortunate enough to have one of its candidates elected into state parliament, we will work hard to influence an increased supply of social and affordable housing to meet demand. We support amendments to tenancy laws to increase legal protections for people who rent including access to longer term secure leases, rent caps and government subsidies for solar panels on rental properties to alleviate power bills. We are also interested in promoting more plant-based food systems to reduce grocery prices and improve human wellbeing.

Carmelo Graziano, United Voice

The rising cost of living is one of the biggest pressures facing families across Hammond. Power bills, groceries and fuel costs are increasing while many regional households are doing their best just to keep up. My focus would be on practical solutions that strengthen local economies and reduce pressure on families. Farmers in our region produce some of the best food in the country, yet many struggle to receive fair prices while consumers pay more at the checkout. I support initiatives that allow farmers to sell more directly to communities through local markets, cooperatives and regional supply networks. We should also review energy policy to ensure regional households are not paying unfair costs for essential services. Strong regional economies help families stay ahead of rising costs while supporting local businesses and producers.

Lucas Hope, independent

Cost of living pressures are crushing Hammond families – skyrocketing rents and home prices that are forcing locals out of the communities they love and grew up in. The root cause is clear: record-high national migration has flooded demand into an already strangled housing market, while new supply has been choked by bureaucracy. If elected, I will lobby the federal government relentlessly for a meaningful, temporary cut to migration intake to take immediate pressure off rents and prices. At the same time, I’ll fight tooth and nail right here in South Australia to slash red tape, fast-track approvals, and deliver thousands more homes. I’ll also work constructively with whoever forms government to secure real relief on power bills and grocery prices, because every single dollar matters to hardworking households like yours. I’m not beholden to any party machine – I’m beholden only to our community, and getting real results. Together, we’ll ease the burden.

Airlie Keen, independent

I have campaigned heavily to bring the Metro Card system to Murray Bridge. I’m thrilled both major parties have made commitments on public transport. Once delivered, there will be significant savings on bus fares. I have also supported the community battery scheme, Empowering SA, due to be installed on Homburg Drive. The battery will support 650 homes to save approximately $575 a year, on standard consumption modelling. I believe government-funded schemes such as these, as well as incentives for home-owners to install solar/battery systems, should continue to be rolled-out across the broader community so that more people are assisted to reduce their energy costs. One way to put downward pressure on prices is through competition amongst retailers. In Murray Bridge there are six supermarkets, in Mannum two, but in Strathalbyn there is only one. Attracting more, and larger, bulk discount retailers would be one way to help drive down grocery prices.

Nicole Palachicky, Greens

The South Australian Greens tabled a bill to make price gouging illegal. Both Labor and Liberal voted this bill down in early February, to restrict excessive hikes targeting retailers with annual revenues exceeding $30 billion. The Greens will continue to stand up to Labor against corporate power over our communities and push them to do better. To help locals with power costs, our multifaceted approach combines increased efficiency, renewable energy investments and a move back to public ownership:

• Virtual electricity grids for all, not a battery dumped in a park for some
• A $6 million Food Security Fund, including $3 million in grants and no interest loans, to support regional commercial farmers and food producers over four years
• No fees for public education, including extracurricular activities through school
• No-cost childcare with double the capacity

Other areas for cost-of-living relief include housing, transport, medical and public services investment.

Adrian Pederick, Liberal

The Liberal Party has many policies to make life more affordable for South Australians by easing the cost of living. These include:

• 50c fares on public transport, including extending the Metro Card to Murray Bridge, Monarto, Callington and Kanmantoo
• Abolishing stamp duty for first home buyers on existing homes as well as new builds so young people can stay in their home town
• Making it cheaper to see a GP by abolishing Labor’s GP payroll tax

We will establish a Tax Reform Commission with the key objective of keeping more money in the pockets of hard working South Australians and making our state the easiest place to do business in the nation. In 2022 Labor promised “no new taxes, no tax increases”, but what we have seen since then is an increase to water bills, a “tax grab” on our GPs and record revenue being brought in from fees and charges.

Robert Roylance, One Nation

If elected, I will focus on lowering the cost of living by tackling the biggest drivers of household expenses. Power bills are high because South Australia rushed into relying on renewables while shutting down existing coal generation. When stable baseload power is removed too quickly, electricity prices rise. High energy costs flow into everything, including groceries, transport and the cost of doing business. My priority is to restore affordable and reliable Australian energy so families and businesses can breathe again. When businesses face lower energy costs, less taxation and less over-regulation, they can hire more local workers and keep prices down for the community. I will also support practical training pathways and local job creation so people in Hammond have real opportunities close to home.

• Meet the candidates: Come to Murray Bridge News’ Hammond election forum at the Bridgeport Hotel, Murray Bridge at 6.30pm on March 10, free of charge; RSVP at www.trybooking.com.

Correction: The spelling of a name.