❓ Mrs. Harvey questions the Premier on utility charge support for those receiving JobKeeper payments. The Premier outlines existing and new measures including energy assistance payments, bill support, Keystart loan deferrals, Lotterywest funding, and small business credits.
AnsweredQoN 1Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
QUESTIONS
WITHOUT NOTICE <10.18 am> Questions
Without Notice
CORONAVIRUS —
UTILITY CHARGES — GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
1. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Although the government's economic relief package is
welcomed and supported by the opposition, for the vast majority of Western
Australians currently looking to receive the Morrison government's $1 500
000 a fortnight JobKeeper payment, can the Premier outline what his government
is doing to help them deal with utility charges, other than that it will not
disconnect their power?
WITHOUT NOTICE <10.18 am> Questions
Without Notice
CORONAVIRUS —
UTILITY CHARGES — GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
1. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Although the government's economic relief package is
welcomed and supported by the opposition, for the vast majority of Western
Australians currently looking to receive the Morrison government's $1 500
000 a fortnight JobKeeper payment, can the Premier outline what his government
is doing to help them deal with utility charges, other than that it will not
disconnect their power?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. A few
weeks ago we announced that we would not be increasing the chicken in a basket
of household goods; that is, electricity and water charges for households and
public transport fares and the like across the community. That commitment to
the people of the state was in excess of $400 million. In addition, we
announced that the energy assistance payment will be doubled for recipients.
From memory, that affects around 300 000 people across Western Australia. On
top of that, today we announced that the doubling of the energy assistance
payment would also apply to those people becoming unemployed and who obtain a
concession card over the next few months. They will be the additional
beneficiaries of that payment, which amounts to an extra $25 million. We also
announced that for people who are having difficulty paying their bills for
COVID-related reasons, no interest would be applied and no-one would be
disconnected from water or power. On top of that, anyone with a Keystart loan
who is facing financial hardship can apply to defer principal payments and
waive interest costs by up to six months. That is a benefit of around $7 000 in
terms of interest. Yesterday we also announced a Lotterywest package. We are
reorienting Lotterywest to become an assistance vehicle for charities in
particular. That package is worth $159 million across the state. I am very
pleased with that one. I met with the Lotterywest board. It was very
cooperative. I would like to thank Colonel Klinken and the board. On top of
that, we have provided small business people with a $2 500 credit on their
power bill. Small business people are householders as well. Charities across
the state will also receive that benefit.
We are taking targeted initiatives designed to ensure that we
create and keep employment in place, that charities continue to operate and
that we support households as best we can.
weeks ago we announced that we would not be increasing the chicken in a basket
of household goods; that is, electricity and water charges for households and
public transport fares and the like across the community. That commitment to
the people of the state was in excess of $400 million. In addition, we
announced that the energy assistance payment will be doubled for recipients.
From memory, that affects around 300 000 people across Western Australia. On
top of that, today we announced that the doubling of the energy assistance
payment would also apply to those people becoming unemployed and who obtain a
concession card over the next few months. They will be the additional
beneficiaries of that payment, which amounts to an extra $25 million. We also
announced that for people who are having difficulty paying their bills for
COVID-related reasons, no interest would be applied and no-one would be
disconnected from water or power. On top of that, anyone with a Keystart loan
who is facing financial hardship can apply to defer principal payments and
waive interest costs by up to six months. That is a benefit of around $7 000 in
terms of interest. Yesterday we also announced a Lotterywest package. We are
reorienting Lotterywest to become an assistance vehicle for charities in
particular. That package is worth $159 million across the state. I am very
pleased with that one. I met with the Lotterywest board. It was very
cooperative. I would like to thank Colonel Klinken and the board. On top of
that, we have provided small business people with a $2 500 credit on their
power bill. Small business people are householders as well. Charities across
the state will also receive that benefit.
We are taking targeted initiatives designed to ensure that we
create and keep employment in place, that charities continue to operate and
that we support households as best we can.
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