Sydney Alliance welcomes Federal Government initiatives and urges NSW Government to match on housing and energy
Sydney Alliance leaders listening to Daniel Mookhey commitments during Pre-election Assembly on February 28th 2023, Westmead
MEDIA RELEASE 17th May 2023
“After seeing the Federal Labor Government act on energy and housing for the most vulnerable in our communities, its time to see the NSW Labor Government match and expand that ambition” Diana Olmos, Sydney Alliance
The Sydney Alliance welcomes the Federal Government’s $1.3 billion to establish the Household Energy Upgrades Fund and the $ 2 billion additional loans for the construction of more social and affordable housing.
The Alliance also welcomes:
· the $300m to support upgrades to social housing,
· $310m for the Small Business Energy Incentive,
· $36m expanding the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme
· Expansion of the Greenhouse Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS).
All Australians need to be part of the transition to net-zero emissions. Low- and moderate-income households bear the brunt of impacts of climate disaster, heat waves and flooding. Government support for communities to make this transition is essential.
Next Budget
In 2024 we call on the Federal Government to increase and expand these measures for more Australians to be part of the clean energy revolution.
Role of NSW Government
Energy efficiency upgrades to social housing are well overdue. The NSW Government will co-funded and co-design this measure and we call on the NSW Government to do so swiftly.
“As a social housing tenant, I welcome the measures. Solar is important for me personally and my neighbours especially when dealing with medical conditions that require electricity. Even though some users can receive some type of rebate it is minimal. The number of vulnerable people approaching me for assistance has doubled. They are going without things like heating showering and without meals. The response of the NSW government is also urgent”. Tania Thompson, Shelter NSW.
The Federal Government measures support over 110,000 homeowners to access low-cost loans to upgrade energy efficiency; and estimates the construction of extra 7,000 homes build for social and affordable housing.
The Alliance calls on the NSW Government in its budget in September to meet and expand last week’s commitments:
· Radically expand the number of social and affordable housing dwellings to be built in NSW.
· Expand the number households who can access renewable energy and energy efficiency, especially for renters.
· Support migrant communities and small businesses in Western Sydney to engage meaningfully and access Federal and NSW energy measures by funding a mobile energy hub.
“The climate and cost of living dual crises is not felt equally in our society. Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities struggle to access clear, unbiased information about the steps they can take to reduce their energy bills and access initiatives designed to support them in the energy transition”. Asha Ramzan, Sydney Community Forum
Role of Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC)
The Alliance urges the CEFC who will be responsible for administering the fund to ensure that loans are no or low-interest and do not put people into further debt. We call on the CEFC to work with organisations embedded in low- and moderate-income neighbourhoods and migrant communities to increase take up of these measures by resourcing access measures.
For media enquiries please contact:
Media contacts:
Sydney Alliance –Diana Olmos, dolmos@sydneyalliance.org.au