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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-09 Daily Xml
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HOUSING SA HOT-WATER SYSTEMS

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:00): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Social Housing a question of about the installation of energy efficient hot-water systems in Housing SA properties.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL:The Advertiser on Saturday revealed that almost 3,000 hot-water units that fail the current basic energy efficiency standards were installed in Housing SA properties in the year to July, and this has occurred because of an exemption to regulations. These regulations require old hot-water systems to be replaced with energy efficient models, and these regulations apply to all other home owners and all other landlords in South Australia.

An exemption for Housing SA has apparently been in place since the regulations began in 2008 and is due to continue until next July. The new hot water efficiency regulations were supposed to be a core strategy in the government's efforts to combat climate change.

TheAdvertiser article included the chief executive of the Plumbing Industry Association of SA saying that the exemption for government properties has created a black market for the installation of these old systems in private properties. However, the real victims have been the families in these Housing SA properties, who have had to pay significantly more for hot water than they would have if a more efficient system had been installed.

SACOSS continues to strongly argue that energy prices are becoming an increasingly important driver of poverty for vulnerable and disadvantaged South Australians. Conversion to a more efficient hot-water system is arguably one of the quickest and most effective ways for people to save money and energy, whilst reducing carbon pollution. My questions to the minister are:

1. Why is Housing SA choosing to save money by shifting energy costs onto the most vulnerable in the community?

2. Shouldn't the government be leading by example when it comes to capital investment in basic energy efficiency?

3. What action has the government put in place to stop the black market in the installation of old electric storage hot-water systems?

4. As a new minister with a strong interest in climate change and the needs of low-income people, will you commit to ensuring that all new hot-water systems installed from now on by Housing SA will meet the energy efficiency standards that every other home owner and landlord in this state has to meet?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for his very important question. I should point out at the start that the responsible minister for this issue is the Hon. Mr Caica in another place, but can I just say that the installation of energy efficient hot-water systems is a major plank of the government in terms of leading the community in terms of energy efficiency. The exemption that was given to the Housing Trust, which will last until July 2012, is entirely appropriate given the Housing Trust is the largest landlord in the state—no private developer has any stock anywhere near comparing to the 45,000 housing units that the Housing Trust is responsible for. I can also say that new houses that were built since then have all had energy efficient water systems installed, and will continue to do so, as the exemption expires in July 2012.

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