❓ Ms. Collins asks the Premier about cost-of-living relief measures for WA families. The Premier details various government initiatives, including electricity credits, free VacSwim, and support for low-income families, highlighting responsible financial management.
AnsweredQoN 575Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COST-OF-LIVING RELIEF
575. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Premier:
I
refer to the cost-of-living pressures facing households across the world,
including in Western Australia and Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier advise the house what action the Cook Labor government is taking to
help drive down cost-of-living pressures for Western Australian families?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house what this support means for Western Australian
families?
575. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Premier:
I
refer to the cost-of-living pressures facing households across the world,
including in Western Australia and Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier advise the house what action the Cook Labor government is taking to
help drive down cost-of-living pressures for Western Australian families?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house what this support means for Western Australian
families?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question. It is an
important one because we know that global events and high interest rates are
impacting households across the state. It is not our game-changing
infrastructure builds; it is high interest rates and global events that impact
our supply chains. We understand this. Western Australia is the strongest
economy in the country but we know people are doing it tough, which is why my
government is a cost of living–busting government. We will do
everything we can to support Western Australian families, whether it is through
direct relief such as our household electricity credit, which, in partnership with
the commonwealth government, will see $700 go back into the pockets of
electricity customers this year, or through
capped transport fares, free fares for school students and, of course, our
regional capped airfare scheme, which is incredibly popular. We are doing
everything we can to support families, and we can afford to do this because we
have managed the state's finances responsibly. By careful management of
the state's finances, we now have the opportunity to invest and get
behind Western Australian families.
Earlier this week, we announced that
our Labor government will make VacSwim free for WA kids this summer. This is a really
important cost-of-living measure, but it is an even more important measure to
make sure that our kids have the vital skills that they need to stay safe in
and around water. I know from growing up in this great state that kids often
have the opportunity to do swimming lessons. Every summer for me was dominated
by going to swimming lessons, making sure we got our certificates and learning
how to be safe in and around water. We understand that many people have not had
that opportunity and others cannot afford to provide their kids with that
opportunity. We have to do everything we can to get behind them. A family with
two children participating in the 10-day summer VacSwim program will save over
$200. This important support for families will ensure that children do not miss
out on lifesaving skills. It has an extra
benefit of helping families with their household budget because we understand
that the school holidays and Christmas time are already stressful enough
for families and that they need that extra
level of support. In addition, we will make entry free to 13 community pools in
the Pilbara and Kimberley. They will be free for children from
low-income families, which is another important opportunity. We trialled this
earlier in the year as part of a pilot program. It was incredibly successful
and benefited 250 kids right across the regions who otherwise would not be able
to afford to enter those pools.
From raising kids in Kwinana, I know
exactly how important these sorts of measures are, whether it is $20 that would
otherwise have had to be added to the kids' school SmartRiders,
registration fees for summer swimming lessons or the cost of buying calculators
and stationery for school. We have brought in
cost-of-living measures for all these areas and we will continue to do more. In
addition, we have boosted KidSport programs, the student clothing
allowance and the Regional Pensioner Travel Card. These are important, targeted
measures that will give extra help for those who need it most. We also have the
$700 electricity credit. Pensioners, veterans and Health Care Card–holders
will receive over $1 000 in support for their electricity bills, while families
with eligible concessions will receive more than $1 300 in total for their
electricity support.
On top of these cost-of-living
measures, earlier this year, we provided over $75 million to WA families
through the WA student assistance payment. It is important to note that the
Liberals and Nationals refuse to support these measures and the WA student
assistance payment. It is extraordinary that, at a time when people are doing
it tough, the Liberals and Nationals do not get it. They do not understand how
important these measures are. They do not understand why Western Australian
families want these things, because they are tone deaf. They do not care about
those who are doing it tough. I tell you what, Madam Speaker, over 150 000
tickets have now been applied for under the spring free Zoo offer. Since the
announcement on Monday for free VacSwim, 28 000 people have already registered
for the summer holidays. WA families get it. They know the opportunities we are
providing for them. They understand what my government is doing to support WA
families with cost-of-living pressures.
important one because we know that global events and high interest rates are
impacting households across the state. It is not our game-changing
infrastructure builds; it is high interest rates and global events that impact
our supply chains. We understand this. Western Australia is the strongest
economy in the country but we know people are doing it tough, which is why my
government is a cost of living–busting government. We will do
everything we can to support Western Australian families, whether it is through
direct relief such as our household electricity credit, which, in partnership with
the commonwealth government, will see $700 go back into the pockets of
electricity customers this year, or through
capped transport fares, free fares for school students and, of course, our
regional capped airfare scheme, which is incredibly popular. We are doing
everything we can to support families, and we can afford to do this because we
have managed the state's finances responsibly. By careful management of
the state's finances, we now have the opportunity to invest and get
behind Western Australian families.
Earlier this week, we announced that
our Labor government will make VacSwim free for WA kids this summer. This is a really
important cost-of-living measure, but it is an even more important measure to
make sure that our kids have the vital skills that they need to stay safe in
and around water. I know from growing up in this great state that kids often
have the opportunity to do swimming lessons. Every summer for me was dominated
by going to swimming lessons, making sure we got our certificates and learning
how to be safe in and around water. We understand that many people have not had
that opportunity and others cannot afford to provide their kids with that
opportunity. We have to do everything we can to get behind them. A family with
two children participating in the 10-day summer VacSwim program will save over
$200. This important support for families will ensure that children do not miss
out on lifesaving skills. It has an extra
benefit of helping families with their household budget because we understand
that the school holidays and Christmas time are already stressful enough
for families and that they need that extra
level of support. In addition, we will make entry free to 13 community pools in
the Pilbara and Kimberley. They will be free for children from
low-income families, which is another important opportunity. We trialled this
earlier in the year as part of a pilot program. It was incredibly successful
and benefited 250 kids right across the regions who otherwise would not be able
to afford to enter those pools.
From raising kids in Kwinana, I know
exactly how important these sorts of measures are, whether it is $20 that would
otherwise have had to be added to the kids' school SmartRiders,
registration fees for summer swimming lessons or the cost of buying calculators
and stationery for school. We have brought in
cost-of-living measures for all these areas and we will continue to do more. In
addition, we have boosted KidSport programs, the student clothing
allowance and the Regional Pensioner Travel Card. These are important, targeted
measures that will give extra help for those who need it most. We also have the
$700 electricity credit. Pensioners, veterans and Health Care Card–holders
will receive over $1 000 in support for their electricity bills, while families
with eligible concessions will receive more than $1 300 in total for their
electricity support.
On top of these cost-of-living
measures, earlier this year, we provided over $75 million to WA families
through the WA student assistance payment. It is important to note that the
Liberals and Nationals refuse to support these measures and the WA student
assistance payment. It is extraordinary that, at a time when people are doing
it tough, the Liberals and Nationals do not get it. They do not understand how
important these measures are. They do not understand why Western Australian
families want these things, because they are tone deaf. They do not care about
those who are doing it tough. I tell you what, Madam Speaker, over 150 000
tickets have now been applied for under the spring free Zoo offer. Since the
announcement on Monday for free VacSwim, 28 000 people have already registered
for the summer holidays. WA families get it. They know the opportunities we are
providing for them. They understand what my government is doing to support WA
families with cost-of-living pressures.
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