Tuesday, 2 May 2023

 Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:36): I am absolutely delighted to update the house on the real cost-of-living relief that our bill-busting power saving bonus is delivering to every Victorian household. Since 24 March more than 1.2 million Victorian families have applied for the new round of the power saving bonus, and of course that is more than 1 million Victorian households who have already received that $250 in their pocket – money back there. That is on top of the 1.85 million Victorians who received the bonus in the last round. That is $500 of direct bill support for Victorian households since July last year. Of course we know that right across this great state Victorian households are taking up the power saving bonus in droves. Whether in regional Victoria or in metro Melbourne, they are applying for the power saving bonus, and it is really easy. The member for Point Cook certainly can be really proud that almost 12,000 Victorian households in that electorate have actually taken up the bonus. Of course we have got the member for Lara, with just over 8000 power saving bonuses in the pockets of their hardworking households, and there are stories right across our state.

Not only can you apply for the power saving bonus, but you can compare your prices online at the Energy Compare website and get a better deal, with 40 per cent of customers finding a better offer and saving at bill time. While this government is interested in lowering peoples’ household bills and relieving peoples’ cost-of-living stress, others have a proven record of actually causing harm to Victorian families. The last time they were in government retail electricity prices rocketed up 34 per cent, and we had almost record numbers of people disconnected from their power supply. Not this government – we are bringing back the SEC – (Time expired)

Sam Groth: On a point of order, Speaker, I have a number of unanswered questions: question 108 for the Minister for Public Transport, question 89 for the Minister for Health and question 74 for the Minister for Education were all due to be answered back in April, and question 57 for the Minister for Education was originally due in March. Speaker, you actually wrote to that minister requesting a response four weeks ago on 5 April, so I would appreciate you following up answers to those questions.

The SPEAKER: They will be followed up by my office.

Tim McCurdy: On a point of order, Speaker, I have also got some constituency questions to be followed up: number 13 to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety was due on 11 March, number 117 to the Minister for Agriculture, numbers 262 and 263 to the environment minister, question on notice 264 to the Minister for Health and finally questions on notice 265 and 266 to the Minister for Public Transport. I would appreciate if you would follow those up.

The SPEAKER: The questions will be followed up.