❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Minister for Child Protection about the impact of Alinta gas price increases on struggling families and seeks information on government assistance measures and potential increases to the Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS). The Minister provides details on streamlining the HUGS application process and historical increases to grant limits.
AnsweredQoN 188Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GAS PRICE
INCREASES
188. Hon ADELE FARINA to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the recently announced increases in Alinta gas
prices and the impact that this will have on families struggling financially.
(1) What new
measures is the government putting in place to assist families to meet
increasing gas and other household costs?
(2) Will the
government be increasing the maximum funding assistance to families under the
hardship utility grant scheme; and, if so, by how much will it be increased?
INCREASES
188. Hon ADELE FARINA to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the recently announced increases in Alinta gas
prices and the impact that this will have on families struggling financially.
(1) What new
measures is the government putting in place to assist families to meet
increasing gas and other household costs?
(2) Will the
government be increasing the maximum funding assistance to families under the
hardship utility grant scheme; and, if so, by how much will it be increased?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) The state
government has streamlined the HUGS process to enable people to submit HUGS
applications directly through the utilities. The utilities that currently
submit HUGS applications directly via this entry method are Synergy, Horizon
Power and the Water Corporation. Alinta has joined this entry point and will
commence submitting HUGS applications in coming days.
(2) The grant
limits available through HUGS are continually reviewed and have increased a
number of times since the commencement of HUGS.
Hon Sue Ellery : By 57 per cent, have they?
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : If the Leader of the Opposition
just waits a minute, I will give her the figures.
For applicants living south of S26,
the geographical area south of Carnarvon, a normal grant was $300 in August
2008; $380 in July 2009; $408 in April 2010; $450 in July 2010; and $475 in
July 2011, which is where it is today. In exceptional circumstances, it was
$500 in August 2008; $635 in July 2009; $680 in April 2010; $750 in July 2010;
and $790 in July 2011, which is where it is today. For applicants living north
of S26, the geographical area north of Carnarvon, a normal grant was $500 in
August 2008; $635 in July 2009; $680 in April 2010; $750 in July 2010; and $790
in July 2011, which is where it is at the moment. In exceptional circumstances,
it was $800 in August 2008; $1 015 in July 2009; $1 090 in April 2010; $1 120
in July 2010; and $1 180 in July 2011, which is where it is today.
question.
(1) The state
government has streamlined the HUGS process to enable people to submit HUGS
applications directly through the utilities. The utilities that currently
submit HUGS applications directly via this entry method are Synergy, Horizon
Power and the Water Corporation. Alinta has joined this entry point and will
commence submitting HUGS applications in coming days.
(2) The grant
limits available through HUGS are continually reviewed and have increased a
number of times since the commencement of HUGS.
Hon Sue Ellery : By 57 per cent, have they?
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : If the Leader of the Opposition
just waits a minute, I will give her the figures.
For applicants living south of S26,
the geographical area south of Carnarvon, a normal grant was $300 in August
2008; $380 in July 2009; $408 in April 2010; $450 in July 2010; and $475 in
July 2011, which is where it is today. In exceptional circumstances, it was
$500 in August 2008; $635 in July 2009; $680 in April 2010; $750 in July 2010;
and $790 in July 2011, which is where it is today. For applicants living north
of S26, the geographical area north of Carnarvon, a normal grant was $500 in
August 2008; $635 in July 2009; $680 in April 2010; $750 in July 2010; and $790
in July 2011, which is where it is at the moment. In exceptional circumstances,
it was $800 in August 2008; $1 015 in July 2009; $1 090 in April 2010; $1 120
in July 2010; and $1 180 in July 2011, which is where it is today.
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