Cost of Living Support

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Can the minister update the house on state government cost-of-living support?

The Hon. N.F. COOK (Hurtle Vale—Minister for Human Services, Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well) (14:51): I thank the member for their question and their interest in the area. Along with all members of this place, we have deep concerns about cost of living for South Australians. I want to acknowledge my colleagues who have worked together to bring this to fruition, including the Treasurer, the Minister for Education, the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, the Minister Infrastructure and Transport and the Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, and also the Premier, for his leadership in this space in order to reform and review our concession system.

We took up the challenge across the board by abolishing stamp duty for eligible first-home buyers, releasing more land for housing, giving more help for school parents, slashing bonds for rentals and making public transport free 24/7 for 415,000 Seniors Card members. All that before we got to our critical work in concessions. At the election, we did make two promises around concessions and we have over-delivered on both of those. These commitments were in stark contrast to what the public was being offered from those opposite where there were no promises in regard to improving the concession system at all.

We promised to double the cost-of-living payment in 2022. We did that, but also brought that payment forward for renters by eight months and also for self-funded retirees, so they got paid at the same time as homeowners. We promised to fully review our concession system and we completed that review in 2023. We could have just left it there and said 'job done', but we have not done that and that's not how we roll. The team cares deeply about our community and as the cost pressures and cost-of-living crisis has emerged, we have responded and put our money where our mouths are.

We over-delivered on that promise to review the system by responding to its recommendations with $115 million in our 2024 budget. It included the one-off additional cost-of-living payment in June 2024, and then permanently doubling the cost-of-living payment for renters from July 2024. This year, we are expanding eligibility for household concessions such as cost of living, energy and water for people in shared accommodation and also for asylum seekers. The total of all this means more people who need it getting more support.

In between over-delivering on those commitments, we have partnered with the commonwealth on the funding and delivery of energy bill relief payments. There was up to $500 for eligible households and $650 for small businesses. My latest advice is that the Department of Human Services has arranged payments totalling $290 million under this program, with $145 million of this coming from the state government.

This is the three-year report card on our targets and how we are addressing and responding to the needs of the community when at this time cost-of-living pressures are really hurting. But the simple story is that we have delivered hundreds of millions of extra dollars because of this policy in concessions alone, and we did this with one leader and one Minister for Human Services. I think, in contrast, those opposite will know that they are now on their third leader since the election, with the latest one appointing a shadow minister for human services while also having a shadow minister for community services and a shadow minister for cost of living. And with such a big team in the area, I am really wondering where their policies are.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my right will come to order. The member for Morialta will leave until the end of question time.

The honourable member for Morialta having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: I think it's been a very good question time so far, with the way everyone has calmly listened to the questions and answers about two important issues for our state, the statewide drought and, of course, Whyalla, two massive issues that affect every electorate directly or indirectly. The member for Hammond.