What does it take to bribe voters and get them thinking that you're OK?

Well some people are getting their cheques and given that some have SOLAR arrays it'll probably mean that they will not have to pay for a GRID power bill for their last quarter, the current one and probably not a lot of the next after that will be left to pay. 

Why isn't the ENERGY MINISTER failing to see and promote the benefits of renewable energy to government and low income earners?

But this a bribe and it doesn't change anyone's mind about the level of incompetence this dumb government exhibits. Nor will it change many pensioners minds about the level of dumbness this government, this minister and ‘governance generally' in Australia where there’re elections in the air  

Look at the matter, Minister Guy Barnett is quite simply a dud! Blaming a bank for his stuffup and the delays to pensioner’s “special energy bonus” is gutless, dumb and incompetent. 

Quite frankly there is nothing other than a copout that anyone could call this nonesense. 

It’s nothing short of a dumb Liberal pre-election bribe that has backfired. Indeed, it might even be illegal.

There were opportunities to do all that he attempted, smart and ethical opportunities, but they went sailing by without even a second glance. 

When a bank apologises for something a dumb politician did you just know that the bank, banks generally, are funding a political party on the understanding that certain things will or will not happen. 

This guy Minister Barnett is beyond belief! He is a serial failure. This dud has failed as a Liberal Senator. He has failed in forestry in Tasmania loosing $Zillions. Now he has failed to pull of an election bribe. 

The voters in Lyons need to step up to the plate and save Tasmania from this serial failure before it hurts way too much. 

FROM THE EXAMINER
Energy Minister Guy Barnett lashes Westpac for energy rebate cheque delay 

• Rob Inglis 

Energy Minister Guy Barnett says he is “extremely disappointed” that, despite repeated assurances from Westpac, the bank failed to mail out the state government’s one-off energy rebate cheques in the stipulated time-frame. Pensioner Concession Card and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders were due to receive a $125 cheque in the mail to assist them with cost of living in time for Christmas. 

Tasmanian pensioners have expressed frustration over delays in the process, with some still not in receipt of the cheques. ....................... In a statement provided to the state government, a Westpac spokesperson said the “vast majority” of eligible Tasmanians “should” receive their cheques by the end of this week. “Westpac has worked overnight with its partners to ensure that all outstanding energy rebate cheques are with and being delivered by Australia Post,” the statement read. “Westpac apologises to Tasmanians who did not receive their cheques on time and are reviewing the procedures to ensure that this does not occur again.” ....................... On Thursday, Mr Barnett responded to criticisms over the government’s decision to make the payments via cheque rather than credit........................ “This was based on Aurora advice,” he said. “It would, of course, be very unfair on Pay As You Go customers for them to be exempt and for those pensioners to not receive the Special Energy Bonus. “The advice from Aurora made very clear this was the best way to get the funds … to the pensioners in the most efficient and effective way.” While the minister welcomed Westpac’s apology, he said it was “a very big concern” that it took this long to advise the government of its error. “We’ve received repeated assurances that the cheques were sent prior to Christmas,” Mr Barnett said. “That’s incorrect. ”[Westpac] have … advised, as of earlier today, that the cheques that will go to pensioners … have been sent or will be sent in the coming days.”....................... Greens leader Cassy O’Connor blasted the government for its handling of the matter. “Having been caught trying to bribe voters with a one-off payment, the Liberals are now trying to blame their bank for the failure to deliver on time,” Ms O’Connor said. “I'm sure they're now thinking it would have been easier and less embarrassing to credit pensioners' power bills with the payment........................ “It's become farcical and pensioners who were expecting the cheque to be in the mail before Christmas as promised will be rightfully cranky.”