The Allan Labor Government has again ripped vital cost of living support away from thousands of regional Victorians at the very moment they need it most.
The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe has said that by cutting the Power Saving Bonus by more than half, it is shutting the door on working families, pensioners without concession cards, and low-income earners.
“This just shows how out of touch this government has become. Instead of helping people through a cost of living crisis, Labor is making it harder for ordinary regional Victorians to keep the lights on and heater running”, Ms O’Keeffe said.
Until now, the Power Saving Bonus provided welcome cost of living relief by offering a $250 payment to every residential electricity account holder. Many households were able to access multiple rounds of the program, with the funds helping to ease the pressure of rising bills.
But from this week, the program has been gutted. The payment has been reduced to just $100, and eligibility has been slashed, with the scheme now only available to people who hold a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, or Veterans Affairs Card. This change excludes thousands of households across regional Victoria.
“Energy bills under Labor continue to spiral out of control, with the Australian Energy Regulator’s latest quarterly report showing wholesale electricity prices in Victoria have jumped 21 per cent compared with this time last year.
“This is just another heavy blow to household budgets already stretched to breaking point.
“Regional Victorians are being hit the hardest by these sparing cost, yet Labor’s cuts mean even more families and vulnerable households are being shut out of the support they desperately need.
“To make matters worse, the Power Saving Bonus application process is online-only, which we know can be particularly difficult for some older residents and those without internet access. This is just another way regional Victorians are being left behind.
“My office has helped hundreds of residents applying for previous rounds of the Power Saving Bonus and would continue to provide assistance to those eligible for the latest round.”
Ms O’Keeffe encourages anyone needing assistance to call (03) 5831 6944 or visit her electorate office at 318 Wyndham Street, Shepparton VIC 3630.
