❓ Mr. Folkard asks about the delivery of electricity credits and how the current government's cost-of-living relief compares to the previous Liberal-National government. The Minister for Energy details the electricity credits provided and criticizes the previous government's record on power prices.
AnsweredQoN 630Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY CREDIT —
COST-OF-LIVING RELIEF
630. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
delivery of cost-of-living assistance to WA households.
(1) Can the minister update the
house on the delivery of the most recent household electricity credit?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this government's cost-of-living relief
compares with that of the previous Liberal–National government?
COST-OF-LIVING RELIEF
630. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
delivery of cost-of-living assistance to WA households.
(1) Can the minister update the
house on the delivery of the most recent household electricity credit?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this government's cost-of-living relief
compares with that of the previous Liberal–National government?
AnswerView source ↗
Does this mean I have more time,
because of the Minister for Education's answer?
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Burns Beach. I know his commitment to and passion for his
electorate is almost surpassed by his passion for his facial hair, but not
quite! This is an opportunity for me to talk about the substantial and
effective cost-of-living relief the Cook Labor government has been able to
deliver to the people of Western Australia. More than $2 100 of electricity
credits have been distributed to every single home in the state since 2020.
These credits were made possible through years of responsible budget
management. If you get the books right, you are able to offer relief when it is
needed, which is what this government has
done. More than one million households have benefited from the first household
electricity credit across the state. The first series in the recent
billing period totalled $350 off everyone's electricity bill, with $200 from the state government and $150
from the federal government, and a further $350 credit will appear on
bills in December. This will be welcome relief at that time.
Alongside this, the state
government has offered payments through the hardship utility grant scheme and
provided ongoing personal support to help reduce bills through the household
energy efficiency support scheme and the Energy Ahead program. The members for
Mandurah, Dawesville and Murray–Wellington were involved in a forum the
other day at which people could see how they could audit their home to cut
their bills. That results in huge savings to them.
I
could go on about all the other cost-of-living relief measures that this
government is responsible for. It is hundreds
and hundreds of millions of dollars of substantial cost-of-living relief for
every Western Australian family. I am sure there are mums, dads and
students here today who have benefited from the student assistance payments
worth $75 million across the state. The two-zone fare cap, the free fare
periods, the children's sport payments, the regional airfares and the
petrol discounts are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But I am looking at
one substantial form of cost-of-living relief—the household energy
credits. In the period 1 July 2023 to 30
September 2023, almost $159 million in relief was provided—$159 million .
In the December 2023 to 12 March 2024 reporting period, that figure was over
$159 million. Again, the recent billing
cycle relief provided to more than one million families and households was
worth $161 million in direct relief to Western Australian families. This
is substantial and real cost-of-living assistance where it matters when it
matters, and we are very proud of that.
What is the other team all about?
What has it done? When it was in government, the Barnett government oversaw a 90
per cent increase in household prices between 2008 and 2017. The former
government gave us a 90 per cent increase in power bills. That was the legacy
of members opposite for household relief—a 90 per cent increase in
power bills. The former government also wanted to flog off the utility
companies. Can members imagine for a moment
where we would be today with a privatised Synergy or Western Power? Can
members imagine what the power prices might be for Western Australian families
if members opposite had gotten their way? I am very grateful for the question
because it gives me an opportunity to demonstrate that this government is
committed to cost-of-living relief initiatives. The initiatives that we have
rolled out are wideranging, substantial and bring hundreds and hundreds of
millions of dollars of relief to all Western Australian families.
because of the Minister for Education's answer?
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Burns Beach. I know his commitment to and passion for his
electorate is almost surpassed by his passion for his facial hair, but not
quite! This is an opportunity for me to talk about the substantial and
effective cost-of-living relief the Cook Labor government has been able to
deliver to the people of Western Australia. More than $2 100 of electricity
credits have been distributed to every single home in the state since 2020.
These credits were made possible through years of responsible budget
management. If you get the books right, you are able to offer relief when it is
needed, which is what this government has
done. More than one million households have benefited from the first household
electricity credit across the state. The first series in the recent
billing period totalled $350 off everyone's electricity bill, with $200 from the state government and $150
from the federal government, and a further $350 credit will appear on
bills in December. This will be welcome relief at that time.
Alongside this, the state
government has offered payments through the hardship utility grant scheme and
provided ongoing personal support to help reduce bills through the household
energy efficiency support scheme and the Energy Ahead program. The members for
Mandurah, Dawesville and Murray–Wellington were involved in a forum the
other day at which people could see how they could audit their home to cut
their bills. That results in huge savings to them.
I
could go on about all the other cost-of-living relief measures that this
government is responsible for. It is hundreds
and hundreds of millions of dollars of substantial cost-of-living relief for
every Western Australian family. I am sure there are mums, dads and
students here today who have benefited from the student assistance payments
worth $75 million across the state. The two-zone fare cap, the free fare
periods, the children's sport payments, the regional airfares and the
petrol discounts are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But I am looking at
one substantial form of cost-of-living relief—the household energy
credits. In the period 1 July 2023 to 30
September 2023, almost $159 million in relief was provided—$159 million .
In the December 2023 to 12 March 2024 reporting period, that figure was over
$159 million. Again, the recent billing
cycle relief provided to more than one million families and households was
worth $161 million in direct relief to Western Australian families. This
is substantial and real cost-of-living assistance where it matters when it
matters, and we are very proud of that.
What is the other team all about?
What has it done? When it was in government, the Barnett government oversaw a 90
per cent increase in household prices between 2008 and 2017. The former
government gave us a 90 per cent increase in power bills. That was the legacy
of members opposite for household relief—a 90 per cent increase in
power bills. The former government also wanted to flog off the utility
companies. Can members imagine for a moment
where we would be today with a privatised Synergy or Western Power? Can
members imagine what the power prices might be for Western Australian families
if members opposite had gotten their way? I am very grateful for the question
because it gives me an opportunity to demonstrate that this government is
committed to cost-of-living relief initiatives. The initiatives that we have
rolled out are wideranging, substantial and bring hundreds and hundreds of
millions of dollars of relief to all Western Australian families.
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