| In the news
Dropping off the edge
 Professor Tony Vinson has released his latest report, Dropping off the edge, which measures social disadvantage across Australia. This is a follow up to his previous reports Unequal in Life (1999) and Community Adversity and Resilience (2004).
Dropping off the edge is based on data provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Taxation Office, Centrelink and the Australian Health Insurance Commission. Each population centre (postcode) was assessed against twenty different disadvantage factors including housing stress, low family income, prison admissions, mortality, suicide rates, domestic violence, unemployment and incomplete education. The result of the analysis is a series of maps which indicate the most disadvantaged and advantaged areas.
According to Vinson, in NSW the most disadvantaged postcodes include Armatree, Boggabilla, Brewarrina, Harrington, Iluka, Koorawatha, Lightning Ridge, Menindee, Tingha, Windale and Wilcannia.
Cost: $20.00 (includes GST and postage). Enquiries: Jesuit Social Services, phone (03) 9427 7388 or email jss@jss.org.au Order at www.australiandisadvantage.org.au
Electricity prices to increase 1 July 2007
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) is responsible for setting the regulated retail electricity tariffs charged by the standard retailers in NSW (Country Energy, EnergyAustralia and Integral Energy) to small retail customers on standard form customer contracts.
IPART recently released its draft determination on energy pricing for the period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2010.
Under IPART’s draft determination total average prices for EnergyAustralia, Integral Energy and Country Energy will increase by 7.7%, 8.2% and 7.2% respectively each year, taking into account the expected rate of inflation.
IPART’s factsheet discusses the increases:
- For EnergyAustralia and Integral Energy higher network charges, energy purchase costs, retail costs and retail margin each contribute approximately equally to the total increase.
- For Country Energy around half of the increase is driven by higher network charges, with higher retail costs and retail margin less important factors. The increases are partially offset by lower energy purchase costs.
For a copy of IPART’s factsheet Overview of draft report and determination on electricity retail prices in NSW visit their website www.ipart.nsw.gov.au
Water charges for public housing tenants
From 5 March 2007 the percentage water charge applicable to Department of Housing tenants in shared metered properties was reduced from 4.1% to 3.3% of net rent. The current maximum charge of $7 per week will reduce to $5 per week. In addition, an adjustment of $10.30 was credited to the water usage accounts of shared metered tenants. The adjustment is the average amount by which tenant water charges exceeded payments to water authorities on shared metered properties from 5 December 2005 to 30 June 2006.
For information phone the Department of Housing on 1800 629 212 or visit www.housing.nsw.gov.au
Life support rebate
Customers who require certain medical equipment in their homes that is necessary to sustain their life may be entitled to a rebate on their electricity bill. Eligible equipment includes:
- PAP devices
- Enternal feeding pump
- Phototherapy equipment
- Home dialysis
- Respirator
- Oxygen concentrator
Eligible life support recipients are defined as those whose name appears on the electricity account and who have a medical certificate to verify the need for specific in-house medical equipment. Customers should contact their electricity retailer for further information.
Don’t leave privacy to chance
For Privacy Awareness Week 2006 privacy offices around Australia developed a ‘10 steps’ guide for individuals and organisations. For more information visit http://www.privacy.gov.au/news/paw/ or phone 1300 363 992.
Tips for advocates and agencies
| 1. |
Only collect information that is necessary. |
| 2. |
Do not collect personal information about an individual just because you think that information may come in handy later. |
| 3. |
Tell people what you are going to do with the personal information you collect about them. |
| 4. |
Consider whether you should be using personal information for a particular purpose. |
| 5. |
Consider whether you need to disclose personal information. |
| 6. |
If people ask, give them access to the personal information you hold about them. |
| 7. |
Keep personal information secure. |
| 8. |
Don’t keep information you no longer need or are no longer required to retain. |
| 9. |
Keep personal information accurate and up to date. |
| 10. |
Consider making someone in your organisation or agency responsible for privacy. |
Tips for consumers
| 1. |
Read privacy policies. |
| 2. |
Ask why the information is required, what they will do with it and who it will be disclosed to. |
| 3. |
Only give out as much personal information as you need to. |
| 4. |
Request access to your personal information. |
| 5. |
Make sure the information an organisation or agency holds about you is accurate and up to date. |
| 6. |
Take steps to protect your online privacy. |
| 7. |
Take steps to ensure your hard copy records are properly destroyed. |
| 8. |
You may wish to ‘opt out’ of further contact with an organisation when completing forms unless you know you want to be in further contact with them. |
| 9. |
Know your privacy rights. |
| 10. |
Exercise your privacy rights. |
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