Latest news with #EmmaBrasier
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
State's massive crackdown on street gangs
The South Australian government has vowed to crack down on street gangs by introducing 'tough new measures' that give police greater powers and prevent further recruits to the crime rings. The proposed new laws will expand current police powers, giving them the authority to treat street gangs in a similar way to outlaw motorcycle gangs. The SA government is vowing to expand police powers. NewsWire / Emma Brasier. Credit: News Corp Australia Further changes would include creating a new offence making it illegal for people to recruit members to a street gang, as well as ensuring courts can impose conditions on street gang participants, such as preventing them from possessing certain weapons and associating with certain individuals and attending certain locations. Other changes would allow the police commissioner to apply to the court for control orders to restrict certain activities for street gang members and participants, and allow for identified criminal groups to be declared as street gangs by regulation. The laws would see street gangs treated the same as motorcycle gangs. NewsWire / Emma Brasier. Credit: News Corp Australia 'These reforms are all about cracking down on street gangs by giving police greater powers, similar to what they have for outlaw motorcycle gangs, to keep the South Australian community safe,' South Australia Attorney-General Kyam Maher said. 'These proposed new laws have been developed in close consultation with SAPOL and are designed to give them appropriate legislative tools to tackle these criminal groups.' 'This government is continuing to deliver on policies that are tough on crime, protect the community and support our law enforcement agencies,' he said. 'This comes on the back of this year's state budget investment that will help our law enforcement agencies in bringing offenders to account, and securing justice for victims of crime.'
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Simple energy trick costing you $171
Australian consumers are getting ripped off $171 a year on their power bills due to remarkably simple trick by the electricity providers. According to research by Choice, Australians are getting ripped off by their power company due to deliberately confusing names. Choice alleges electricity providers are using the same name on two different energy plans, meaning unexpected Aussies are paying more for their power than they need to. Households could be paying $171 more than they should on their electricity bills. NewsWire / Emma Brasier Credit: News Corp Australia Choice chief executive Ashley de Silva said it shouldn't be this hard to know if you're being ripped off on your energy bill. 'The potential impact of this practice is significant,' says De Silva. 'Choice estimates that reusing identical names for plans with differing prices could, in aggregate, be costing consumers approximately $65 million in savings.' In a lodgement to the ACCC the consumer group claims electricity providers deliberately make it harder for Australians to switch plans. The Australian Energy Regulator added a requirement in September 2023, forcing the energy retailers to make it easier for consumers to understand. As part of these changes power companies have to tell customers on their bills if they have a cheaper plan available and how much they could save by switching. The guideline requires a compulsory 'better offer' statement on the first page of the bill, under the heading 'Could you save money on another plan?' Choice claims to have collected almost 400 energy bills from January to March 2025, finding 64 energy plans have identical names. The Australian Energy Regulator says households power bills could rise between 2.5 and 8.9 per cent depending on where a person lives. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia As such, Choice alleges Australians believe they are on the cheapest plan possible and are paying more than they should for electricity. 'Across these 64 examples, people could have saved an average of $171 annually had they switched to the cheaper plan, even though it had the same name. 'The highest potential savings amongst these examples was $588 per year.' Ms De Silva said the energy market is already difficult for Aussie households to navigate without the need for misleading practices such as using the same name on plans. 'At a time when we're all looking for ways to save, energy companies are making it harder and harder to know what you're paying and why,' De Silva said. 'This practice is extremely confusing, and potentially misleading or deceptive. 'Supporters who shared their bills with CHOICE often thought that the offer to save money by switching to a plan with an identical name was a mistake, and likely missed out on significant savings.' The submission to the ACCC comes on the eve of millions of Australians paying more for their power. Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has released its latest default market offer (DMO) draft determination in April which is the maximum households living in NSW, South Australia and South East Queensland will be paying. Under the draft, households' power bills could rise between 2.5 and 8.9 per cent depending on where a person lives. Small business customers could see rises between 4.2 and 8.2 per cent.
