Joint media release: 32,000 Queensland households to benefit from energy upgrades

The Hon Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy

The Hon Josh Wilson, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy

The Hon Steven Miles, Queensland Premier

The Hon Mick de Brenni, Queensland Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs

The Hon Meaghan Scanlon, Queensland Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works

• $116m in joint funding between the Albanese and Miles Governments to install energy performance measures such as insulation, solar and fixed appliance upgrades
• Adds to the Albanese and Miles Government’s cost of living relief and Homes for Queenslanders plan to build one million more homes, including 53,500 social homes
• Stark contrast to the Liberals and Nationals who have threatened $15.5 billion in federal housing funding cuts

The Albanese and Miles Labor Governments are doing what matters for Queensland, rolling out energy performance upgrades for thousands of social housing tenants to help lower the cost of energy bills and ease cost of living.

A $116 million joint investment will deliver a raft of upgrades, including thermal shell improvements, air cooling solutions and ceiling fans, in addition to solar PV, energy-efficient hot water systems, and fixed appliance upgrades.

The Albanese Government continues to deliver on their Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative as the Miles Government also rolls out its Homes for Queenslanders plan to build one million more homes, including 53,500 social homes.

The matched funding will ensure residents in social housing can expect lower energy bills while keeping their homes warmer in winter and cooler in the Queensland summer.

Overall, the funding will see upgrades to approximately 28,000 public housing dwellings and 4,000 community housing dwellings, to support Queensland’s clean energy transformation and reduce the cost of living for the state’s most vulnerable.

This partnership builds on the urgent energy bill relief that the Albanese and Miles Governments are already delivering to Queenslanders, to provide long term improvements that will help to alleviate cost of living pressures for social housing residents.

It’s a stark contrast to the Liberals and Nationals who last week announced $100 billion in federal funding cuts, including cuts to the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund and $5.5 billion Help to Buy scheme.

The threat to cut the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund means 30,000 social and affordable homes are in jeopardy of never being built, including thousands slated for Queensland.

Additionally, flagged cuts to the $5.5 billion Help to Buy scheme approximately 8,000 Queenslanders are set to lose out on the opportunity for home ownership.

Minister Scanlon has called out Peter Dutton and the LNP for their $100 billion razor gang and called on David Crisafulli to join the government in renouncing the cuts to Queensland homes.

Quotes attributable to Queensland Premier, Steven Miles:

“Every Queenslander deserves to live in a home that is safe, comfortable and affordable to manage.

“This initiative will help further bring down power bills for vulnerable households, by making their homes more energy efficient and with growing cost of living pressures, I want to do everything I can to make life easier for Queenslanders.

“Queenslanders are already receiving $1,000 off their power bills, and this joint funding means more than 32,000 Queensland households in social and community homes will save even more.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen:

“The Albanese Government is driving down energy bills with social housing upgrades to help bring cost of living relief to some 32,000 Queensland homes.

“Working with the Miles Government to deliver better energy performance in social housing means warmer homes in winter, cooler homes in summer and cheaper bills year-round.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Minister, Josh Wilson:

“Social housing tenants are least able to afford energy efficiency upgrades and yet most affected by energy costs.”

“The Albanese Government wants to make sure everyone can benefit from technologies that improve the energy performance of their homes.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs, Mick de Brenni:

“We’re already delivering huge energy savings to all Queensland households with the Miles Government’s nation-leading $1,000 energy rebate.

“The Miles Government is leading the clean energy revolution by providing funding to ensure the most vulnerable Queenslanders can reduce their energy consumption, saving money and the environment.

“Cost of living relief is all at risk under an LNP Government, who watched on and offered no state-wide relief while electricity prices soared by 43%.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Housing Minister, Meaghan Scanlon:

“We’re doing what matters for Queensland when it comes to building more homes, and helping Queenslanders save on their power bills.

“Queenslanders are already receiving $1,000 off their power bills, and this joint funding means more than 32,000 Queensland households in social and community homes will save even more.

“Sadly, at the same time, the LNP have sharpened their knives, ready to cut thousands of homes for Queenslanders at a time when we need more construction, not less.

“The LNP voted against 30,000 social and affordable homes and have spent months railing against home ownership for thousands of Queenslanders – now it’s clear why, because the first thing they want to do is take an axe to them.”