❓ The Premier outlines the WA government's financial relief packages and support measures for households and businesses impacted by COVID-19, including energy assistance, bill relief, and funding for not-for-profit organisations.
AnsweredQoN 3Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
HOUSEHOLDS — ALL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
3. 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 — ALL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
3. 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 Hillarys 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. 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 $6 100. 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.
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. 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 $6 100. 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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