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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-31 Daily Xml
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Energy Concessions

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:47): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Will the minister seek to negotiate changes to the government's deal with Origin Energy in relation to concession cardholders and, if not, why not? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: A range of stakeholders have expressed concerns about the government's recent deal announced earlier this year, including one Julie Macdonald, secretary of the Housing Trust Tenants Association, who told ABC, and I quote:

We're asking the government to relook at Origin's deal where we had 20 per cent off for concession cardholders that's now gone to 17 per cent, to ask Origin and just re-engage with them and see if we can get that back up to 20 per cent.

The Hon. N.F. COOK (Hurtle Vale—Minister for Human Services) (14:48): Thanks very much for the question. Cost of living is such an enormous pressure on all households. That is why we went to the election doubling the Cost of Living Concession. That was a main priority for us at the election, knowing that, in the lead-up to that, it had been a huge issue for many households. What we also know is that there is a whole new group of people who are talking more openly about those pressures, and many of these people are income earners. So there is a whole range of people who are seeking assistance.

The Cost of Living Concession that we doubled first-up involved a $78 million payment, and that was to around 211,000 households. We did extend that special energy offer. Of course, as the Treasurer has described, this is a market-driven energy discount offer which is in the hands of the energy provider in terms of what they can provide. I have sought explanations regarding this from our department, our excellent concessions team, who do their very best to provide equity across the community but also target those who are most at need, and will continue to do so.

But on top of that we will also continue to ensure that we provide advocacy and get outcomes for many people living under some type of income stress. We have done that recently as well in terms of the fact that we know federally there has been an increase in the commonwealth rental assistance payments, which will make a difference to many thousands of households across South Australia.

I do work really closely with the department. With this percentage, certainly we understand we have made the best possible arrangement and got the best possible deal for this. Members would probably be aware that only last week (I think it was last week) we stood together out in the member for Elizabeth's electorate with a couple who had made the most out of the Virtual Power Plant arrangement. They have solar panels and a battery which of course provide them with absolutely the best in market discount as well for their energy cost—that is, people in public housing—and we have extended that to people in community housing. It moved glacially slowly over the past five years—

Mr Patterson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Morphett!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. N.F. COOK: It's unparliamentary to respond to interjections, but if the member for Morphett—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. N.F. COOK: I know. The member for Morphett probably needs a refill in his water glass. But if he had been that loud when he played for Collingwood his possessions would have been way higher up. Anyway, look, that Virtual Power Plant did move very slowly—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. N.F. COOK: Just over 4,000 you would be interested to know—wow, it's loud in here today.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Wright!

The Hon. N.F. COOK: I am very loud and it's hard to compete.

The SPEAKER: Minister, you have the call.

Mr Patterson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morphett!

The Hon. N.F. COOK: There are nearly 4,100 public homes that have benefited from that. But the really excellent news is that we have set quite a lofty target that over the next 18 months another 3,000 households in our housing portfolio—which Julie Macdonald, as secretary of the tenants association would be very pleased to hear—will receive that benefit also.

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