📰 Billions to gain if energy relief budget spend focuses on electrification
Rewiring Australia broadly welcomes the government’s commitment to helping households tackle the cost-of-living crisis, but is urging for an investment in longer-term solutions.
The not-for-profit has argued a multi-billion dollar spend to alleviate bills would generate higher returns if it was used to help people electrify their households.
“People are drowning in bills, and energy bills keep going up. We need to sort out our energy supply issue, and we know electrification has the potential to save us trillions of dollars as a nation,” Rewiring Australia CEO Francis Vierboom said.
“Our research shows that if we invested in helping people switch from fossil fuel appliances, and ran their home using solar and batteries, we would make a much higher return on the energy bill relief spend,” Francis Vierboom said.
Rewiring Australia is calling for a flexible loan system which would help people transition to electric appliances and systems, to secure cheaper and cleaner energy for themselves.
“This isn’t pie in the sky stuff. We have a flexible loan for students that allows people to invest in themselves to be better off in the future. Why can’t we do the same thing for people’s lifetime savings on energy,” Francis Vierboom said.
Calculations by Rewiring Australia show that by investing $5.3 billion (the amount spent on energy rebates) in a flexible loan system would support 1 million homes to fully electrify, creating $2.1 billion a year in savings - meaning the investment would put more money in consumers’ pockets within three years.
“We have everything to gain, but also a lot of savings to lose by ignoring this long-term solution. Let’s end bill shock,” Francis Vierboom said.
Rewiring Australia is also calling for the federal government to focus on harnessing solar power here, rather than spending $60 million each year on importing fuel.
“We can generate our own energy here, and we should. It’s time to keep our money in our local communities, and spend less on bills, which will mean there’s more to go around for local businesses,” Francis Vierboom said.
“Our energy system is not fair, but by electrifying Australian homes we can create long-term bill relief, cut emissions and reduce our exposure to harmful gasses, and support local industry through trades people and installers. It’s a win, win, win situation.
“Good policy and leadership from the federal government is needed for this future to be realised,” Francis Vierboom said.
Rewiring Australia also welcomes the $900 million commitment towards a national licensing scheme for electrical trades workers, removing red-tape and allowing tradies to work in different jurisdictions more easily.
Meanwhile. Dementia Australia welcomes the budget measures directed at monitoring dementia data nationally, implementing aged care reforms and making communities more inclusive for people with a disability including dementia. However, as the peak body, Dementia Australia is disappointed not to see funding that is urgently needed to reduce the impact of dementia, which will soon be the leading cause of death for all Australians.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said significantly more funding is needed to reduce the impact of dementia on all Australians of all ages.
“With an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia and an estimated 29,000 people living with younger onset dementia – dementia is the public health, disability and aged care challenge facing Australia,” Professor Buchanan said.
“The National Dementia Action Plan requires funding if we are to see it have an impact. The lack of funding to implement this Plan has a real impact on people living with dementia, their families and carers.
“Dementia Australia encourages all parties, independents and candidates to consider how they can support actions to reduce the impact of dementia.”
Dementia Australia has been calling for funding for three critical initiatives to reduce the impact of dementia for all Australians. They are:
Launching a national conversation on dementia to raise awareness of the condition and to promote brain health.
Establishing a team of dementia specialist navigators within Dementia Australia to improve service support and access.
Building the capability of the workforce to provide care and support for people living with dementia with training.
“Dementia Australia is looking forward to working with the next government to improve the lives of people of all ages impacted by all forms of dementia,” Professor Buchanan said.
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