Major Victorian Political Parties Promise Power Bill Relief for Households

A close up of a power bill in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 22, 2012. Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Major political parties in the Australian state of Victoria have switched the focus of their election campaigns to energy bill relief for local households as the state election will begin in less than two weeks.

Speaking at his campaign launch in Cranbourne, Melbourne, on Nov. 13, Premier Daniel Andrews announced that each Victorian household could get a second $250 (US$167) power-saving bonus if the centre-left Labor party was re-elected on Nov. 26.

The newly announced bonus is provided under an extension of a current state government program in which eligible Victorian households could claim a one-off payment by applying to the Victorian Energy Compare website from March 2023.

The first round of bonuses was expected to cost $455 million.

A light bulb is seen illuminated in Sydney, Australia, on June 22, 2022. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

“Ahead of winter next year, we will provide another round of the $250 Power Saving Bonus for all Victorian households–keeping the lights on and the cost down,” Andrews said in a statement.

“Just another way Labor is helping Victorians make ends meet.”

The announcement comes following a federal budget forecast predicting that electricity prices would jump by 56 percent across Australia in the next two years, while gas prices were expected to rise by 40 percent.

On another topic, the premier said that among the jobs expected to be generated under Labor’s plan to re-establish the State Electricity Commission, 6,000 positions would be given to apprentices and trainees.

He also introduced a $207 million package for specialist schools to provide better disability support for families and children.

Opposition’s Promise

Earlier on Nov. 13, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy introduced the “bill buster” policy at his campaign launch, saying it would help Victorian households save up to $235 if the Coalition won the election.

The policy will scrap the daily fixed “supply charge” on household electricity bills for six months starting from January 2023 and is anticipated to cost around $200 million.

“While we are constrained by the record debt racked up by Mr Andrews, rewarding hard-working families is a key priority of ours”, he said in a statement.

“Our bill buster initiative will allow us to provide modest financial support to Victorian families and small businesses that are affordable and targeted.”

In addition, Guy said the Coalition would ensure more reliable and affordable power for the state’s residents under a new policy that compels all new conventional onshore gas projects to supply gas to Victorian homes and businesses only.

“The guaranteed supply of natural gas means we can keep the lights on and keep energy affordable while we transition to a clean energy future,” Guy said.

The Coalition said the domestic gas reservation policy was a real solution to living cost pressures and that it would be legislated within six months after the Liberals and Nationals came into power.