Wednesday, 4 August 2021

Ministers statements: home heating and cooling upgrades

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (14:12): I am absolutely delighted to rise and update the house on our home heating and cooling upgrade program. This is going to help thousands of low-income Victorians right across the state to replace their old and inefficient heating systems with new cost- and energy-efficient split systems. We know that this is a popular program, and I was delighted to have been able to announce the next phase in May. With the member for Northcote I was able to announce this program was open for community housing organisations, providing $1000 in rebates to their tenants to replace their old gas or wood-fire heaters. And just on Sunday I was delighted to be in the member for Clarinda’s electorate, of course together with the member for Clarinda, to announce the next phase of the program to open it up to even more low-income and vulnerable Victorians who can now apply for a $1000 rebate to upgrade their systems.

We know this program will deliver real change for vulnerable Victorians. By replacing their old and outdated systems we are making homes safer. We are also of course improving our state’s climate resilience and we are driving down the cost of living—one, two, three. All three are absolutely on the side of benefiting Victorians. An energy-efficient split system can save vulnerable households hundreds of dollars off their energy bills each and every year, keeping them not just warm in the winter but cool in the summer. It is absolutely a double benefit.

I note that the member for Pascoe Vale has already had members of her own community that want to apply for this program, as has the member for South Barwon and the member for Oakleigh, and I know many others that I do not have time to name. In fact since we opened applications over the weekend, 838 people have already applied. We know many more will come. This is a benefit to all Victorians who need it most.