MEDICAL HEATING AND COOLING CONCESSION

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. Will the minister inform the council about the Medical Heating and Cooling Concession scheme?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for his very important question and advise him that I would be delighted to answer his question about the medical heating and cooling scheme.

On 1 January of this year, the medical heating and cooling concession came into operation. This new energy concession is designed to assist South Australians on a fixed or low income who have a medical condition which requires the frequent use of heating or cooling in the home to prevent the severe exacerbation of their condition.

People living with medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, lymphoedema, fibromyalgia, tetraplegia, post-polio syndrome, motor neurone disease, systemic lupus erythematosus and muscular dystrophy commonly face symptomatic deterioration during extreme hot or cold weather, leaving them little option other than to regulate their climate at home with heaters and air conditioners. Typically, these people are also the members of our community who can least afford to pay high energy bills, struggling to get by on low incomes.

The South Australian government introduced the medical heating and cooling concession to assist people living with these specific medical conditions with their energy costs. The medical heating and cooling concession is administered by the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion and provides $158 per year, increasing to $165 per year on 1 July 2012, to assist eligible people with their energy costs. The concession is available to South Australians who are receiving either an eligible Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs pension or allowance or who hold an eligible card and have confirmation from their doctor of their need for heating and cooling as a result of their medical condition.

To date, there have been approximately 1,750 telephone inquires and over 600 applications received. There have been many people calling for this type of concession for a number of years, and I thank them for raising this issue. I would like to give particular credit to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia, which has been actively campaigning in the community for this policy. I also acknowledge that there was support for this type of concession from all parties represented here in this place and from former members. This new concession is one very practical way that the government can help support community members who live with significant medical challenges, and the feedback I have received so far has been quite positive.