❓ The Premier outlines the WA government's $1.6 billion relief package for households and businesses impacted by COVID-19, including energy assistance, deferred bill payments, and support for not-for-profit organisations.
AnsweredQoN 205Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
HOUSEHOLDS — GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
205. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Premier:
I refer to the state government's
response to the impact of COVID-19 on Western Australian households. Can the
Premier outline to the house how the government is ensuring that those Western Australians
who may be facing hardship during this difficult time are provided with the
support and relief that they need?
HOUSEHOLDS — GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
205. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Premier:
I refer to the state government's
response to the impact of COVID-19 on Western Australian households. Can the
Premier outline to the house how the government is ensuring that those Western Australians
who may be facing hardship during this difficult time are provided with the
support and relief that they need?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Wanneroo for
the question. We are confronting a period of great uncertainty. COVID-19 has
presented us with a crisis unlike anything most of us have seen in our
lifetime. We never thought we would live to see the heartbreaking scenes of the
queues of unemployed workers outside Centrelink like we do today. We have never
seen our high streets and our shopping malls so empty. It is heartbreaking for
so many people. For the business owners and peopled who work for them, or did
work for them, it is absolutely shocking. My thoughts go out to every one of
those Western Australians who have lost their jobs and everyone who has had to
close their business. We want to help them as much as we can.
Two weeks ago, we announced a relief
package of $600 million to support households and business. Today, we have
announced another $1 billion of further relief. These measures are aimed to
support Western Australians who, in the last few weeks, have had their lives
turned upside down. We have already doubled the energy assistance payment to
$610. That will benefit 300 000 Western Australians who have a concession card
as well as the Centrelink Health Care Card. Those who have recently become
unemployed, many for the first time, will be eligible for that payment. Further
to that, we are bringing the boost payment forward to this financial year and
paying it immediately. Straightaway, $305 will come off their next electricity
bill. We are providing immediate relief to those who are now out of work, many
for the first time in their lives, and further support to vulnerable
households. This will cost around $116 million. We are also determined to
ensure that those who are experiencing financial hardship do not face further
undue stress. We will ensure that no household in WA facing hardship as a result
of COVID-19 will have their power or water disconnected. We will also ensure
that for those struggling Western Australians, no interest will be charged on
any bill payments that have been deferred. Affected households may also apply
for an interest-free payment arrangement or for late payment penalties to be
waived for transfer duty, landholder duty, vehicle licence duty or land tax.
Keystart customers can also apply to defer principal repayments and waive
interest costs by up to six months. This could mean an interest saving on a newly
established loan of $7 000 over six months.
We must also help those who are
there to help others. Western Australia is better placed as a state to do that
because of Lotterywest. Through Lotterywest, we have established a $159 million
COVID-19 relief fund for not-for-profit and community organisations. This will
provide funding for those delivering crisis and emergency support. It will
ensure that they can meet the increased demand for food, clothing, shelter,
transport and other critical needs. This funding will also ensure that they
have the resources and equipment needed to respond. The relief fund will also
support community groups facing hardship as a result of COVID-19. This funding
will ensure that our most vulnerable Western Australians are not forgotten and
that vital not-for-profit support services continue to be there. As I said
earlier, I thank Susan Hunt, Peter Klinken and the other board members of
Lotterywest. We worked cooperatively on that
and it is a terrific outcome for so many charities and people across the state.
It essentially means that it is not business as usual for Lotterywest,
but Lotterywest will be there as a helping hand for so many people.
I know that the next six months are
going to be tough. It is not going to be easy. We are trying to do everything
we can to provide reassurance for Western Australians. To all those Western Australians
who might be scared or distressed, the Western Australian government is on your
side and together we will get through this.
the question. We are confronting a period of great uncertainty. COVID-19 has
presented us with a crisis unlike anything most of us have seen in our
lifetime. We never thought we would live to see the heartbreaking scenes of the
queues of unemployed workers outside Centrelink like we do today. We have never
seen our high streets and our shopping malls so empty. It is heartbreaking for
so many people. For the business owners and peopled who work for them, or did
work for them, it is absolutely shocking. My thoughts go out to every one of
those Western Australians who have lost their jobs and everyone who has had to
close their business. We want to help them as much as we can.
Two weeks ago, we announced a relief
package of $600 million to support households and business. Today, we have
announced another $1 billion of further relief. These measures are aimed to
support Western Australians who, in the last few weeks, have had their lives
turned upside down. We have already doubled the energy assistance payment to
$610. That will benefit 300 000 Western Australians who have a concession card
as well as the Centrelink Health Care Card. Those who have recently become
unemployed, many for the first time, will be eligible for that payment. Further
to that, we are bringing the boost payment forward to this financial year and
paying it immediately. Straightaway, $305 will come off their next electricity
bill. We are providing immediate relief to those who are now out of work, many
for the first time in their lives, and further support to vulnerable
households. This will cost around $116 million. We are also determined to
ensure that those who are experiencing financial hardship do not face further
undue stress. We will ensure that no household in WA facing hardship as a result
of COVID-19 will have their power or water disconnected. We will also ensure
that for those struggling Western Australians, no interest will be charged on
any bill payments that have been deferred. Affected households may also apply
for an interest-free payment arrangement or for late payment penalties to be
waived for transfer duty, landholder duty, vehicle licence duty or land tax.
Keystart customers can also apply to defer principal repayments and waive
interest costs by up to six months. This could mean an interest saving on a newly
established loan of $7 000 over six months.
We must also help those who are
there to help others. Western Australia is better placed as a state to do that
because of Lotterywest. Through Lotterywest, we have established a $159 million
COVID-19 relief fund for not-for-profit and community organisations. This will
provide funding for those delivering crisis and emergency support. It will
ensure that they can meet the increased demand for food, clothing, shelter,
transport and other critical needs. This funding will also ensure that they
have the resources and equipment needed to respond. The relief fund will also
support community groups facing hardship as a result of COVID-19. This funding
will ensure that our most vulnerable Western Australians are not forgotten and
that vital not-for-profit support services continue to be there. As I said
earlier, I thank Susan Hunt, Peter Klinken and the other board members of
Lotterywest. We worked cooperatively on that
and it is a terrific outcome for so many charities and people across the state.
It essentially means that it is not business as usual for Lotterywest,
but Lotterywest will be there as a helping hand for so many people.
I know that the next six months are
going to be tough. It is not going to be easy. We are trying to do everything
we can to provide reassurance for Western Australians. To all those Western Australians
who might be scared or distressed, the Western Australian government is on your
side and together we will get through this.
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