We need to get Victoria off gas
MEDIA STATEMENT
VCOSS is urging action in response to surging gas prices.
Major retailers are warning household bills will jump by about 25 per cent (or roughly $480) over the coming year, as reported by the Herald Sun.
In the short term, people need help to pay their bills and stay warm this winter.
But gas is yesterday’s fuel.
Ultimately we need to get all Victorian homes off gas, and using efficient appliances powered by clean electricity.
New technologies have expensive up-front costs. Even with positive government initiatives, the best and most effective new technologies are still out of reach for the lowest-income households.
More can be done to bridge this gap.
VCOSS CEO Emma King said:
“Gas price hikes are going to hit Victorian families hard.
“As we head into winter, people will be forced to choose between heating and food.
“Those hurting the most will be people earning lower incomes, living in poorer quality homes and using outdated heating and cooking appliances.
“This is a global challenge, but the impacts are very local.
“The Victorian Government should be offering direct cash subsidies and more no-interest loans to help renters and struggling homeowners upgrade to electric appliances.
“This would allow more Victorians to benefit from the shift to cleaner and cheaper renewable energy.
Specifically, the 2023 VCOSS Budget Submission calls for:
- Targeted investment to improve the energy efficiency of poor-quality homes. Measures would include grants of $5,000 – targeted to community housing providers and low-income households – to help bridge the financial gap between existing schemes (such as the Victorian Energy Upgrades program) and upgrades that save the most energy but are still too expensive for people on the lowest incomes.
- Direct subsidies, rebates and no-interest loans to enable low-income households to replace gas appliances with electric models, and abolition of gas disconnection penalties.
- A Default Offer for gas, to help regulate household costs in the short term while Victoria transitions away from gas. This would be similar to the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) which currently exists for electricity.
VCOSS is the peak body for Victoria’s social and community sector, and the state’s premier social advocacy body.
We work towards a Victoria free from poverty and disadvantage, where every person and community experiences genuine wellbeing. Read more.
Media Contact:
Ryan Sheales
Director of Communications
0418 127 153
media@vcoss.org.au
VCOSS acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and to emerging leaders. Our business is conducted our business on sovereign, unceded Aboriginal land.