The Albanese and Cook
Governments have joined forces to deliver cost of living relief to every
Western Australian household, with confirmation that the first instalment of a
record $700 Household Electricity Credit will begin to roll out next month.
The Cook Labor Government's 2024-25 State
Budget included $492 million to deliver a $400 electricity credit to all
households and to more than 90,000 small businesses, while the Albanese
Government 2024-25 Budget included a further $300 credit for households and
$325 for small businesses.
The cost of living
relief initiatives will be combined, with a $700 credit to roll out to every WA
household - and a $725 credit for small businesses with annual electricity
consumption below 50 megawatt hours - across two instalments.
The first instalment - $350 for households and
$362.50 for small businesses - will begin appearing on power bills next month
in the July-August billing cycle. The second instalment will be applied in the
December-January billing cycle.
For households and
small businesses that do not have an account with Synergy or Horizon Power,
applications for assistance are expected to open in July through RevenueWA and
the Small Business Development Corporation.
For households
requiring additional support - including pensioners, veterans and Health Care
Card holders - further help is available through the Energy Assistance Payment,
increasing total support to over $1,000, while for families with eligible
concessions, more than $1,300 in support is available including the Dependent
Child Rebate.
The electricity credit
is jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth Governments and is the fourth
electricity credit delivered by the WA Labor Government.
It takes total support
received by WA households in power bill relief to at least $2,100 over the past
four years, and small businesses to more than $4,300.
Quotes attributable to WA Premier Roger Cook:
"Delivering
cost of living relief is our top priority, and together with the Federal
Government, we're ensuring every household in WA receives a record electricity
credit this year.
"Our
responsible financial management means we can invest in what matters to Western
Australia, without leaving behind a mountain of debt.
"My
Government is looking at all options to help Western Australians with cost of
living pressures, because we'll always do what's right for WA."
Quotes attributable to Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers:
"We're
working closely with the WA Government to ease the cost of living for Western
Australians and energy rebates for households and small businesses are an
important part of our efforts.
"The
primary focus of our economic plan and our Budget is to ease pressure on
Western Australians and put downward pressure on inflation, and our new power
bill relief does both.
"Just like
every taxpayer is getting a tax cut, every household will now get energy bill
relief under the Albanese Government from next month with plenty of support for
small businesses as well.
"We know
that many Western Australians are under pressure, and the extension and
expansion of our energy rebates will deliver more cost of living help to more
people who need it."
Quotes attributable to Western Australian Treasurer
Rita Saffioti:
"We've always made it clear that providing cost of
living relief to WA households and businesses is a major focus for the Cook Government.
"We're really proud to have delivered a fourth
electricity credit in this year's Budget, saving families at least $2,100 and
small businesses more than $4,300 over the last four years.
"These initiatives put more money back in the pockets
of households, and we're able to do this because of our strong financial
management and keeping net debt sustainable."
23 JUNE 2024
