The Treasurer of the Northern Territory says the Government will not take on recommendations that say it should hike up utilities prices.

In a recent report, NT’s Power and Water Corporation said network prices must be raised by 58 per cent to July next year, if the utility is to remain commercially viable.

The report has made it to the desk of the Utilities Commissioner, but Treasurer Dave Tollner says the tariff rise of 20 per cent will stand this year, with a further 5 per cent a year over the next two years, as promised. He claims the corporation should find the saving within its own operations.

“Territorians have done much of the heavy lifting,” he said.

“Because we have seen a big increase in tariffs, it is now time the Power and Water Corporation is reformed, that the waste is cut out and it becomes an efficient and competitive organisation.”

The recommendations from the Power and Water Corporation have been slammed by both sides of Territory government, with Opposition leader Delia Lawrie claiming the papers revealed a “secret plan” to hike charges, amounting to a $2000 per annum increase for the average Territory family.

Chief Minister Adam Giles called that claim a fairy tale, standing by the Treasurer and Government’s fixed position.

“What we have said about the price of power is set in stone for the next three years.”