Cost-of-Living Support

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Can the minister update the house on cost-of-living supports, particularly for older people using public transport?

The Hon. N.F. COOK (Hurtle Vale—Minister for Human Services, Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well) (14:56): I thank the member for her question and also thank you, Mr Speaker, for your commitment, as well as the member for her commitment, to helping South Australians to manage cost-of-living pressures. We knew we had to help South Australians, and that is why we went to the 2022 election with a range of targeted commitments, and why we have done more in every budget since.

In our first budget we delivered on two critical promises. We doubled the Cost of Living Concession in 2022 that delivered a cash payment of almost $80 million in total to more than 210,000 households—around one quarter of all households in South Australia. At the time this was the single biggest concession payment in the state's history.

However, then, in 2023, we eclipsed that with even more for those in need. With the help of the Minister for Transport and the member for West Torrens we also introduced free public transport all day, every day for more than 400,000 Seniors Card holders. That began in July 2022, and I am really pleased to advise the house that older South Australians have now saved more than $16 million in public transport fares since this started.

I am advised that an average of 637,270 fares have been taken across the Adelaide metropolitan network every month for free. In the 12 months to the end of August 2024, Seniors Card holders took 8,798,846 trips—without having to pay. It increased from just under 6 million trips taken in the same period just a few years before, an increase of almost 50 per cent.

This is a huge cost-of-living relief for older people, but it is great policy, because it delivers on multiple fronts. Older people being more active in the community could help them with employment, which has a double whammy impact on cost of living. Seniors Card holders can work up to 20 hours per week, and this initiative makes it easier for them to do that.

It also means older people can socialise more, visit family and friends more, get involved in communities, community centres, sheds, or take up volunteering. It reduces loneliness, and we know that loneliness has such negative impacts on people's health. More people on public transport also helps reduce traffic congestion and is good for the environment. It is an amazing policy initiative all round.

On the weekend and multiple times over the last few weeks I have been in the electorate of Black. There are around 9,000 Seniors Card holders in the electorate who have access to great bus and train services. The 9,000 Seniors Card holders in Black have been accessing this free, 24-hour a day public transport since July 2022 from places like Marino, Marino Rocks, Hallett Cove and Hallett Cove Beach train stations. I discussed this on the weekend with the Premier and with our candidate for Black, Alex Dighton, who was really pleased to hear how this was helping the local community.

I highlighted thousands of local residents who receive ongoing energy concessions, have received energy bill relief payments in 2023 and 2024, sewer and water concessions and the Cost of Living Concession payment. Our last budget included $115 million extra for concessions, including a bonus cost-of-living payment of more than $240 that was paid in late June. We have doubled the payment for renters.

I was really pleased to talk to Alex Dighton about this, about the fact that more help is on the way, because from 1 January Health Care Card holders will be eligible for the 50 per cent discount rate on fares. This is a fantastic result for the whole of South Australia, but importantly a great result in the seat of Black.