Cost of Living Concession

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:15): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: More than 27,000 tenant households across South Australia will start receiving the government's cost of living concession from tomorrow. The concession is being provided one month earlier than estimated and is part of the government's commitment to help ease the cost of living pressures faced by people on low or fixed incomes, as well as pensioners.

Many in our community find their finances stretched, and this is why the government is providing the cost of living concession to those who need it most. The concession was introduced last July, replacing and expanding the former council rates concession for eligible homeowner households.

The new cost of living concession payment of up to $200 was provided to eligible homeowners in September 2015. However, the government recognised that tenants also face a range of cost of living pressures, so we have extended the concessions to vulnerable and disadvantaged tenants, who can apply to receive up to $100 annually. Tenants were not eligible to receive the previous concession.

Mr Gardner interjecting:

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: The concession provides flexibility for people to use it whenever it is needed in order to support themselves and their families. Since payments for the 2015-16 financial year began last September, almost 150,000 homeowner households and retirement village residents have received the cost of living concession. Eligible tenants who applied for the concession will start receiving their payments directly into their nominated bank account.

Applications will open for the 2016-17 cost of living concession on 1 July 2016. The state government will always fight for and protect our most vulnerable citizens, which is why we continue to offer a range of concessions, including energy, water, sewerage, the emergency services levy and transport. The government is proud to stand by the vulnerable members of our community, and we do not want to play political games with those people.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Morialta for interjecting during that ministerial statement.