Hills District Independent HILLS 108 June 2024 | Page 18

POLITICS
with Ray Williams MP
A solar disgrace
Kellyville and Rouse Hill families have the largest amount of solar panels in the country , and I am appalled that Essential Energy , Endeavour Energy and Ausgrid are now charging these responsible homeowners for sending power back into the grid .
It ’ s a huge disincentive for keeping our lights on and will discourage those
considering installing solar panels in the not too distant future . These charges are based upon too much usage during the day , however , fails to consider a high proportion of The Hills Shire is made up of home based businesses , and there are more people than ever working from home since COVID19 .
This disgraceful attack on the pocket of well-intentioned residents is nothing but a money grab , when the whole intent behind solar was to incentivise and reward those who install solar panels and send energy back to the gird . Hills Relay For Life It was an honour to attend the opening ceremony and activities of the 2024 Hills Relay For Life event at Castle Hill Showground . Hills Relay for Life has raised a staggering $ 5 million for the Cancer Council and this year they are set to exceed their target of $ 300,000 . Relay is not just
the 24-hour event on the track , it is a yearlong fundraising campaign . I congratulate the committee , the teams , the sponsors , the supporters and all of the participants for continuing to support this worthy cause .
The rort is almost over
I am proud to advise that after raising the matter of Embedded Network Energy Providers in the media , and subsequently chairing the Law & Safety Committee about this matter , new Legislation has been brought to Parliament putting the price gouging providers on notice that their reign of
financial terror is almost over . Never think one person cannot make a difference because it took just one person to contact my office and make a complaint , which is effecting change not only in NSW but across the country .

Working to deliver cost of living relief for our community

with Julian Leeser MP
I know that people throughout our community are doing it tough . That ’ s why this year ’ s federal budget is so important . Our community is right to have expected cost of living relief .
However , I am concerned that the budget will not do enough to help people throughout our area manage the worsening cost of living crisis . In just the last few weeks , I have heard from residents who have been slugged with a 41 per cent increase in their electricity bill compared to this time last year . I ’ ve also heard from another constituent who recently received a more than 50 per cent rise in his home and building insurance premium .
People across the community are telling me that they are having to tighten their belt . Unfortunately , the Government is doing the opposite . This budget has added $ 315 billion of new spending - that ’ s $ 30,000 of extra spending for every Australian household . Additionally , far too much of that spending is going to projects that won ’ t truly help people across our community .
I will , however , support some measures which will have a meaningful positive impact for people across the Berowra electorate . They include funding to add life changing and lifesaving medicines to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme , the extension of measures to support women and children escaping domestic violence , and money to every Australian family to help them with soaring power prices .
I ’ ll also be calling for the Government to support measures proposed by the Coalition in Peter Dutton ’ s budget-inreply speech . Those include measures to limit migration to help manage the housing affordability crisis , increase workforce participation , and support small businesses by extending the value of assets eligible for the instant asset write-off .
As your local member , I am focused on getting Australia back on track , to keep our nation safe and secure and to make life easier and better for all Australians .
Julian Leeser MP with students from St Bernard ’ s Catholic Primary School at Parliament House .
16 ISSUE 108 // JUNE 2024 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT