❓ Mr. Scaife asks about the uptake of the seniors' safety and security rebate, restored by the McGowan Labor government. The Minister provides detailed figures on items claimed and highlights the program's benefits for seniors and WA small businesses, contrasting it with the previous government's actions.
AnsweredQoN 679Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SAFETY AND SECURITY REBATE
679. Mr D.A.E. SCAIFE to the Minister for Seniors and
Ageing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to community safety and its strong record on
protecting our seniors.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the uptake of the seniors' safety and
security rebate, which was cut by the Liberals and Nationals, but restored by
the McGowan Labor government?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how WA seniors are using the rebate to make their
homes safer and more secure?
679. Mr D.A.E. SCAIFE to the Minister for Seniors and
Ageing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to community safety and its strong record on
protecting our seniors.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the uptake of the seniors' safety and
security rebate, which was cut by the Liberals and Nationals, but restored by
the McGowan Labor government?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how WA seniors are using the rebate to make their
homes safer and more secure?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question
and for his advocacy for seniors in Cockburn.
(1)–(2) It is well known that on this side of the house we
often speak about the issues that the Liberals and Nationals make
promises on during election campaigns and what they actually deliver—two
quite different things, as members will know. I often like to remind the
opposition about the safety and security rebate and how they dudded seniors
when they made an election commitment in 2013 and then broke that commitment
the following year by scrapping the seniors' safety and security rebate
program. Terrible. The house also well knows
that we on this side are the champions of seniors. One example was our quick
move to reinstate the seniors' safety and security rebate—yet
another election commitment that we have actually delivered, in contrast with
the previous Barnett Liberal–National government.
More than $6 million has now been
paid out—I am delighted to advise the house of that figure—to
keep our seniors safe in their own homes, with approximately 30 000 items
claimed. Those items have made a tremendous personal impact on individuals'
safety; they provide peace of mind and wellbeing for occupants. They are also
of benefit to community safety more broadly. I would like to provide the house with some more detail on those items. I can tell
the house that, as at 10 October, 9 510 security door screens and 6 499
security window screens or shutters have been installed by local businesses in
the homes of WA seniors. A further 4 202 home alarms or CCTV systems and 2 377
mains-powered smoke alarms have been purchased. There is more, members; it goes
on. On top of those items, a rebate has been paid for more than 1 000 residual
current devices. I wish the Minister for Energy was here, because he would be
delighted with that. There were also more than 1 000 wi-fi doorbells installed
and almost 2 000 security sensor lights. There were 603 fire extinguishers, 580
deadlocks and 378 fire blankets provided. These are astonishing numbers.
Who do members think is installing
and providing those items? It is WA small businesses. In June this year, I had a great opportunity to join the member
for Dawesville in visiting Lockdown Security Solutions . People there
spoke to us about the positive growth in demand since the reintroduction of the
rebate. These are items that have an immediate impact on the safety of seniors
who have taken up the offer, and we all know how important it is to be happy
and feel safe and secure in your own home.
I would like to thank the WA Seniors
Card Centre, which has done a terrific job in getting all those claims
processed. I urge WA Seniors Card holders to continue to take up this
opportunity. The rebate provides greater safety for seniors in the home. We deliver;
members opposite do not.
The SPEAKER : I will just
remind the minister that some of his own members are opposite!
and for his advocacy for seniors in Cockburn.
(1)–(2) It is well known that on this side of the house we
often speak about the issues that the Liberals and Nationals make
promises on during election campaigns and what they actually deliver—two
quite different things, as members will know. I often like to remind the
opposition about the safety and security rebate and how they dudded seniors
when they made an election commitment in 2013 and then broke that commitment
the following year by scrapping the seniors' safety and security rebate
program. Terrible. The house also well knows
that we on this side are the champions of seniors. One example was our quick
move to reinstate the seniors' safety and security rebate—yet
another election commitment that we have actually delivered, in contrast with
the previous Barnett Liberal–National government.
More than $6 million has now been
paid out—I am delighted to advise the house of that figure—to
keep our seniors safe in their own homes, with approximately 30 000 items
claimed. Those items have made a tremendous personal impact on individuals'
safety; they provide peace of mind and wellbeing for occupants. They are also
of benefit to community safety more broadly. I would like to provide the house with some more detail on those items. I can tell
the house that, as at 10 October, 9 510 security door screens and 6 499
security window screens or shutters have been installed by local businesses in
the homes of WA seniors. A further 4 202 home alarms or CCTV systems and 2 377
mains-powered smoke alarms have been purchased. There is more, members; it goes
on. On top of those items, a rebate has been paid for more than 1 000 residual
current devices. I wish the Minister for Energy was here, because he would be
delighted with that. There were also more than 1 000 wi-fi doorbells installed
and almost 2 000 security sensor lights. There were 603 fire extinguishers, 580
deadlocks and 378 fire blankets provided. These are astonishing numbers.
Who do members think is installing
and providing those items? It is WA small businesses. In June this year, I had a great opportunity to join the member
for Dawesville in visiting Lockdown Security Solutions . People there
spoke to us about the positive growth in demand since the reintroduction of the
rebate. These are items that have an immediate impact on the safety of seniors
who have taken up the offer, and we all know how important it is to be happy
and feel safe and secure in your own home.
I would like to thank the WA Seniors
Card Centre, which has done a terrific job in getting all those claims
processed. I urge WA Seniors Card holders to continue to take up this
opportunity. The rebate provides greater safety for seniors in the home. We deliver;
members opposite do not.
The SPEAKER : I will just
remind the minister that some of his own members are opposite!
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