Power saving bonus
Paul HAMER (Box Hill) (17:12): (96) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy and Resources. The action I seek is for the minister to visit Koonung Cottage Community House in Blackburn North in my electorate to see firsthand the wonderful work that they do to help local residents apply for the Andrews government’s power saving bonus. The power saving bonus is an incredibly important support measure. It has been well received by the residents of Box Hill and indeed statewide, with 1.7 million applications submitted for the existing round. At a time when cost-of-living pressures are biting and the prices of basics such as groceries, fuel and utilities are rising, this $250 relief payment could not come at a better time. Over the last year my office has helped hundreds of residents to apply online for the power saving bonus, and our efforts have been supported by a wonderful network of local neighbourhood houses.
I welcome news that a further round of the $250 power saving bonus will commence from 24 March, and once again we will see huge demand for it locally. I understand that neighbourhood houses will be official community outreach partners for the next round of the power saving bonus, along with the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and Good Shepherd. Almost 50,000 applications for the power saving bonus from the current round have come from community outreach partners such as neighbourhood houses. I would like to thank all of our local neighbourhood houses once again for the work they do every day to support and advance the wellbeing of our community.