Non-mains energy concession
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:04): (974) My question is to the Minister for Disability. As Minister for Disability, you have responsibility for the State Concessions Act 2004. Victorians have been waiting five months for reimbursements under the non-mains energy concession and have also not been given notification that their claims have been formally received. In this present cost-of-living crisis when many households are struggling to put food on the table and pay their bills, Minister, I ask you: will efficient and timely processing be implemented for reimbursements claimed under the non-mains energy concession?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:05): I thank Ms Bath for her question. As coordinating minister for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, the concessions program, along with a range of other cost-of-living initiatives, is something that I have the great privilege to work with. I was just in Bairnsdale last week actually, discussing the success of that program with the Vinnies group in Bairnsdale, who support a number of people in accessing those programs on a regular basis.
I know that the officials that run the program within the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing are always committed to the efficient processing of appropriate claims, and if the member has particular claims that she feels are not being progressed in the way that they should be then I would appreciate her providing my office with those details so that we can ensure that people are getting the reimbursements and the concessions that they might be entitled to. It is very difficult to take a hypothetical of just a group of people and five months without knowing specifically the circumstances around the particular claims, but I would be more than happy to work with the member to ensure that people are getting the appropriate concessions that they are entitled to. If there has been any unnecessary slowness or error in the assessment of their claims, then I am also happy to work with the member to ensure that those get resolved, because it really is an extremely important program for the most vulnerable people in our community – those who are particularly in times like this feeling the cost-of-living pressures that we are experiencing.
Like I said, I was out in Gippsland just last week talking with members at Vinnies about this very program and had in my hand the very booklet that explains the program. I could provide you with a copy of that, if that would assist, and if you could provide me with the details of your constituents who might feel they are not getting what they need, we would be more than happy to ensure that they do.
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:07): Minister, these people just need their reimbursements. When applicants have called the hotline to follow up on whether the claims have been received or are progressing by processing, they have been routinely disconnected from that hotline. Will you now take immediate steps to rectify the chaos evident in the non-mains energy concession scheme?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:08): Again, as I said in my substantive answer, I am more than happy to assist the member and her constituents if I have the appropriate details. I cannot deal in hypotheticals, but if you were to provide my office with the details and genuinely committed to the resolution of your constituents’ issues, like those that I was hearing from in Vinnies in Bairnsdale just last week, we would be more than happy to assist.