Media Releases

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, today called on the Brumby Government to immediately halt the roll-out of the much maligned ‘smart meters’.
“Just five months after the Energy Minister, Peter Batchelor, boasted of the benefits of the Brumby Government’s smart meters, such as its time of use pricing, he is now acknowledging that this is another government project that simply doesn’t work,” Mr Walsh said.
“Victorians are once again being asked to put their hands in their pockets and pay for another project that is beset with delays, massive cost blow outs and, as we now know, limited functionality.
“This project’s costs have blown out from $800 million to $2.25 million, is at least 12 months late and now we are finding out that the benefits that are supposed to come from the meters are not going to eventuate.
“While it continues to force consumers to pay for smart meters that they don’t want, won’t get until some unspecified time in the future and that don’t do what they are supposed to, the Brumby Government is burying its head in the sand,” he said.
“The government is in a policy panic and is refusing to acknowledge the community anger over the bungled project that has been dubbed the Myki of metering.
“It is essential that this whole project be put on hold until all concerns about its implementation are resolved.
“I urge members of the community to continue to support the Coalition’s concerns and sign the petition circulating in the electorate or available from my office,” Mr Walsh said.