Keeping SA Affordable

Transcription

1 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future. Affordable Living in South Australia

2 Purpose The purpose of the An Affordable Place to Live Statement is to bring together in one place the services, supports and initiatives either available currently or planned for the future to help households manage cost of living pressures. The information included in this Statement relates to the issues raised when the government asked the community to share what would help make South Australia more affordable. This Statement is intended to be a helpful and practical tool for households and for the community sector to identify the full suite of assistance available and where to access more information. Under the stewardship of the An Affordable Place to Live Cabinet Task Force the government will continue to work on affordability, alongside both business and community providers, with the goal of keeping South Australia the most liveable state in the nation. December 2013

3 Contents Message from the Premier, Treasurer Page 04 You Told Us Page 05 A Snapshot of South Australia s Affordability Page 06 In Summary Page 08 Affordable Housing Page 10 Affordable Energy Page 14 Affordable Water Page 18 Affordable Transport Page 22 Affordable Money Page 26 Affordable Education Page 30 Affordable Health Care Page 34 Affordable Food Page 38 Affordable Justice Page 42 Thank You Page 46 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 03

4 Message from the Premier/Treasurer South Australia has consistently been recognised as being a more affordable place to live compared with other states. But even with careful budgeting, I know that many households can face diffi culties making ends meet. That is why one of my government s seven strategic priorities is to make sure that South Australia remains an affordable place to live, work and do business. Our government will work with community organisations to protect our affordability by creating jobs and focusing on our key strengths: advanced manufacturing, premium food and wine and mining. We will work with businesses and community service providers to protect our affordability and continue to do what we can to make it easier for struggling South Australians to balance their household budgets. We asked South Australians about how we should focus our efforts and for new ideas. You have told us your concerns about the cost of buying and renting houses with convenient access to transport and schools, the increasing cost of utilities, improvements needed in public transport and affordable child care for low income families. The feedback received during the consultation process will assist my government to work with our community to develop further initiatives such as fl exible payment options for school fees, motor registration and utilities. From the information gathered in the consultation, we will be targeting support in areas such as housing, utilities, water, transport, money, education, food, medicines and justice. This document highlights the relevant current and future government support for all of us to be able to better manage essential cost of living pressures. There is a substantial safety net out there to support those who are struggling. But we need to do more to ensure those who most need this support are aware of it and can access it. That is why we are establishing a charter of affordability, because South Australia always works best when strong government is working with strong business and backed up by a strong community. I want to thank the community for their ideas, feedback and support. Together we will ensure that South Australia keeps its reputation for being an affordable place to live, now and into the future. Jay Weatherill MP Premier / Treasurer of South Australia 04 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future

5 You Told Us The consultation Early in 2013, the government engaged with the South Australian community, wanting to understand more about what affects the cost of living and asking you to share ideas about how to keep this state affordable. A consultation paper was released to stimulate discussion around the key issues of housing, household expenses, concessions and life changing events. Thousands of individual comments were received from the community, government and non-government representatives. You told us There were challenges in obtaining affordable housing for rental and home ownership, and the need for more of both. More needs to be done to help people access private rental and to make renting more secure. Upfront entry costs such as stamp duty were seen as a barrier to home purchases, as well as being able to get affordable home fi nance. You were looking for lower and more manageable energy bills. The cost of the supply charge was raised by households paying supply charges for both electricity and gas as well as those with low energy use. Requests were made for more solar systems on community buildings. Increasing household costs resulted in a number of comments stating the need to increase concession entitlements for quarterly water bills. Three recurring themes were raised in relation to transport public transport, infrastructure, and transport planning. There was expression of the importance of expanding public transport access and affordability. Transport concessions were highlighted as a potential area for investigation. Money issues raised concerns, including the need for more fi nancial counsellors in the not-for-profi t sector. The consultation identifi ed that accessing vocational education and training (VET) can be diffi cult for people on a low income. The most commonly raised topic was affordability of childcare. Other topics you raised included the cost of school education, out of school hours care and the availability of preschool and childcare services to meet the needs of working parents. You highlighted the need for more connected government services working with the community to plan ahead. Concerns were raised about the cost of private health insurance and the increasing cost of gap payments. Rising out-of-pocket expenses for treatments and the cost of health care were identifi ed as contributing factors for people delaying seeking treatment for health issues, particularly for those receiving government welfare payments. Commonly reported themes included people reducing food expenditure or going without food to meet other costs, buying cheaper, unhealthy alternatives to fresh food, and being reluctant to grow food at home due to the cost of maintaining a garden, with particular concerns about the cost of water. Feedback indicated that access to an affordable justice system with courts that are considerate of people facing hardship is important. The availability of information to support people in what is seen as a complex system was also important. Your feedback has provided a starting point for identifying opportunities. The Government of South Australia has listened and this statement highlights some of the initiatives available to you now and in the future. Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 05

6 A snapshot of South Australia s affordability The cost of living is an issue that often dominates discussion all across Australia. As a community we all have expenses that stretch our household budgets and many of these relate to essential items such as electricity, water and housing costs. But how does our cost of living compare to other states in Australia and what has happened to our standard of living over the longer term? In the August 2013, the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) quarterly Household Budget Report, found that Adelaide has the lowest cost of living of all Australian states and territories (refer below). Research showed that a typical basket of goods in Sydney was almost $5,000 more expensive than the same basket of goods in Adelaide. Electricity is around 10% lower in Adelaide compared to Sydney, grocery bills are cheaper by 4% and transportation is 7% lower. Capital City Cost of Living comparison to Sydney, June 2013 $74,000 $73,000 $72,000 $71,000 $70,000 $69,000 $68,000 $67,000 $66,000 $65,000 $72,914 $70,893 $70,193 $69,286 $68,615 $68,092 $72,398 $72,266 Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth Hobart Darwin Canberra Although the prices of many things are cheaper in Adelaide when compared to Sydney we also have to consider income levels to reveal the complete picture. If a household s income is increasing by more than the prices of the goods and services they purchase then their fi nancial standard of living is improving. The chart below uses Sydney as a benchmark and considers both the income and cost of each capital city compared to this benchmark. After accounting for both income and cost we fi nd that Adelaide scores which means on average, Adelaide s standard of living is 2.3% better than that experienced in Sydney. Standard of Living Index, Capital Cities (comparison to Sydney) Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth Hobart ACT/NT Source: NATSEM, ABS While these fi gures portray the situation faced by an average citizen, we know that there are many people who are operating on low and fi xed incomes which are signifi cantly below the average. Source: NATSEM, ABS The real point of difference however between Adelaide and Sydney is in relation to housing costs. The average Adelaide mortgage is 38% less than Sydney while Adelaide renters save almost 40% in comparison to their eastern counterparts. 06 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future

7 Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that over the last fi ve years the cost of living indexes for Aged Pensioners rose by 14.6% and for Other Welfare Recipients by 15.2% while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 12.2% nationally and 12.0% in Adelaide. While the difference may be relatively small, the fi gures over the last fi ve years show that for both groups the cost of living has increased more than CPI. This is a particular concern for welfare recipients reliant on fi xed payments like Newstart, Youth Allowance or Widows Allowance which are indexed to movements in the CPI. Cost of Living vs CPI (June 08 June 13) 16.0% 14.0% 12.0% 14.6% 15.2% 12.2% 12.0% % Change 10.0% 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% Pensioners Other welfare recipients Australia CPI Adelaide CPI 2.0% 0.0% This analysis is important to inform us of the extent of the affordability issue. We know that Adelaide is an affordable place to live but we also need to be mindful of those people in our community on low and fi xed incomes or in receipt of welfare who haven t enjoyed the same increases to their standard of living as others. The government is committed to delivering information, support and services to the community to provide all households with the ability to control and manage their cost of living pressures. Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 07

8 In Summary Affordable Housing Affordable Energy Affordable Water Affordable Transport Now Future Now Now Now First Home Owners Grant Stamp duty concessions Housing Construction Grant Finance loans Private Rental Assistance Program Private Rental Liaison Offi cers National Rental Affordability Scheme Affordable Homes Program 50,000 public and community housing properties Housing assistance programs Commonwealth Rent Assistance More affordable rental options More home ownership lending options Renewed communities Growing the community housing sector Better connected services for private rental New public and community rental homes Improved Remote Indigenous Housing More homes for people living with a disability Regional housing solutions to support economic growth Housing Strategy Spreading bill payments Energy saving help and advice Best deal for energy Energy concessions and financial assistance National Energy Customer Framework Deregulation of energy prices Appliance energy effi ciency Energy Partners Program Energy and Water Ombudsman Future Better billing options New and replacement meters Community engagement Review of Residential Energy Effi ciency Scheme Utilities Literacy Program Statewide pricing policy Managing water use Payment options Customer Assist Program Concessions Water effi ciency Consumer Advocacy and Research Fund Future Early Intervention strategies for hardship customers More choice of payment options Customer Web Portal Free tram shuttle service Free City Loop Transport Concession Card Companion Card Taxi Fare subsidies Future Flexible registration options Introduction of a 28-day pass for unlimited travel Cheap Sunday and Public Holiday fares Extension of free travel for seniors in off-peak periods Introduction of a Commuter Club Release of a Visitor Pass with unlimited travel Consultation Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy Investigating reduced public transport fares for bridging visas 08 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future New initiatives announced since the creation of The Strategic Priority (March 2012 to December 2013)

9 Affordable Money Affordable Education Affordable Health Care Affordable Food Affordable Justice Now Now Now Now Now Concessions Support programs Financial Assistance Future Utilities Literacy Program Financial Counselling support Funding for Consumer Credit Legal Service Affordable SA Help Line Payment options for school fees Financial assistance to eligible families on low income School card Child Care Benefi t Skills for All Child Care Rebate Jobs Education and Training Childcare Fee Assistance Future Payment options for school fees including instalments Safety Net programs Chronic disease, Mental Health and other Management Plans Dental care Patient Assistance Transport Scheme Physical and mobility equipment Social workers providing support for changing life circumstances Future Timely access to health services Hospital Pharmacy Reform South Australian Ageing Plan Eat Well Be Active strategy Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle program (OPAL) Learning life skills Community gardens and food co-operatives Accessing emergency food Future Coordinated approach with all levels of government State Public Health Plan Legal Services Commission Community Legal Centres Pre-lodgement and Pro-bono mediations Minor Civil Claims Hardship Provisions Interpreting costs Future Outstanding fines assistance South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal One Stop Shop Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 09

10 Affordable Housing HomeStart Finance, the state s home lending agency, has helped more than 60,000 lower income households buy a home of their own. HOMESTART FINANCE LOANS COMMONWEALTH RENT ASSISTANCE NATIONAL RENTAL AFFORDABILITY SCHEME HOUSING CONSTRUCTION GRANT PRIVATE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Now FIRST HOME OWNERS GRANT AFFORDABLE HOMES PROGRAM PRIVATE RENTAL LIAISON OFFICERS STAMP DUTY CONCESSIONS 50,000 PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY HOUSING PROPERTIES 10 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future

11 The community housing sector already provides almost 5,000 affordable rental dwellings and with future growth is set to become a major supplier of affordable housing to those on lower incomes. BETTER CONNECTED SERVICES FOR PRIVATE RENTAL GROWING THE COMMUNITY HOUSING SECTOR MORE HOMES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH A DISABILITY MORE HOME OWNERSHIP LENDING OPTIONS HOUSING STRATEGY FOR SA Future MORE AFFORDABLE RENTAL OPTIONS IMPROVED REMOTE INDIGENOUS HOUSING REED COMMUNITIES PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY RENTAL HOMES REGIONAL HOUSING SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 11

12 Affordable Housing Housing affordability in South Australia For most households rent or mortgage payments are the largest cost to their budget. Many households are struggling to meet these rising costs, leading to high demand for affordable and well-located housing to rent and buy. The challenge extends beyond just the cost of housing. The quality of our communities and neighbourhoods, access to services, transport and employment, the cost of heating and cooling and housing choice also impact on affordability. Government cannot meet this demand alone. Not-for-profi t housing providers, private industry, landlords, real estate agents, fi nance companies and local government, need to work together to create new, affordable, housing options. Housing help available now There are many options available to help with the cost of renting or buying a home. Affordable home purchase If you are a fi rst home owner, you might be eligible for the First Home Owners Grant of up to $15,000 when purchasing a new home. Stamp duty concessions for off the plan apartments in Adelaide city of up to $21,330 have recently been extended to the broader inner-metropolitan region and are available until 30 June 2014, with partial concessions available from 1 July 2014 to 30 June For more information visit revenuesa.sa.gov.au. You may also be eligible for the Housing Construction Grant of $8,500 if you purchase before December All new signifi cant housing developments are required to include 15% affordable housing for low and moderate income households, including 5% for vulnerable and at risk people. Those earning up to $75,000 ($95,000 for couples and families) may be eligible to purchase one of these homes through the Affordable Homes Program. More information at affordablehomes.sa.gov.au. HomeStart Finance can also help those purchasing a home through the use of specialised loans and products which can boost their buying power and reduce upfront costs. Check how much you can borrow at homestart.com.au. Affordable rental For those on lower incomes there are more than 50,000 public and community housing properties across the state for long-term housing. Tenants typically pay no more than 25% of their income. Those looking for private rental, may be eligible for fi nancial assistance through Housing SA s Private Rental Assistance Program, in the form of a bond advance. This is in addition to Commonwealth Rent Assistance, which is a payment to improve private rental affordability. For those having diffi culty fi nding a place to rent, Housing SA s Private Rental Liaison Officers may be able to help, contact You may also be able to access private rental housing through the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), which provides rents at 80% of market rates. Future plans for housing affordability Changes are being made to make it easier for people to access services. Improved coordination will mean people won t have to go to multiple places for assistance. People will be able to access more services online. More affordable housing opportunities will be delivered in new communities. Innovative responses will be explored for different populations with a particular focus on those with a disability, new arrivals, Aboriginal people, the homeless, women, young people and older people. Renewed communities The creation of Renewal SA in 2012 demonstrates a commitment to urban renewal and the increased delivery of affordable housing choices. More than 8,000 new homes will be developed across the renewal areas of Bowden, Tonsley, Woodville West and Playford Alive so that people have the opportunity to live in a home that is affordable and well-located close to employment, services and transport. 12 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future

13 Neighbourhoods will be reinvigorated as urban renewal projects are brought forward. Ageing public housing will continue to be replaced and new housing opportunities created so that there is greater diversity and more housing choice. Part of this work involves delivery of 154 homes through the Better Neighbourhoods Program by December 2015, supplemented by an additional 114 homes through a $23.6 million acceleration of the program. More home ownership lending options More opportunities will be provided for people to access home ownership through working in partnership with fi nancial providers to develop affordable lending products for lower income households. HomeStart Finance will extend its role in helping people get into home ownership sooner, including more than 1,500 low to moderate income and key worker households each year. More affordable rental options The government will continue to stimulate investment in affordable rental through its participation in the National Rental Affordability Scheme. 500 properties will be supported to complement the 3,800 since Better connected services for private rental The government will work closely with private renters, landlords, agents and advice services to improve access and security in private rental. This includes investigating long-term (multi-year) leases and rental sharing options. Vulnerable private renters, including young people, new arrivals, Aboriginal people, older people and people with disabilities, will be better supported through improved training and coordination of services. New public and community rental homes More affordable rental opportunities will be created as part of a $220 million Affordable Housing Stimulus Package, with more than 900 new homes for lower income and vulnerable people created across the state. This includes constructing up to 175 new social housing dwellings by December 2014, through a $20 million community housing grant and $30 million in new construction for vulnerable tenants. At least 15% of homes will be for people living with a disability. Homelessness will be reduced through expanding specialist housing programs that connect up housing and support services for people at risk, such as the Ladder Project, Common Ground and Foyer models, across the state. Growing the community housing sector To support the expansion of the community housing sector in South Australia over the next fi ve years the government will transfer an initial 1,000 public housing dwellings to community housing organisations over the next 18 months. This transfer will be the fi rst of 5,000 public housing dwellings to be transferred and is part of a broader program of growth for the sector. Improved remote Indigenous housing As part of the 10 year Remote Indigenous Housing Partnership with the Commonwealth Government, work will improve housing, reduce overcrowding and connect Aboriginal people to employment, through the construction and upgrading of more than 654 homes in remote and non-remote communities. More homes for people living with a disability The number of people with a disability in stable, supported community accommodation will be increased to 7,000 by Regional housing solutions to support economic growth The government will work with industry and community members in major regional centres to develop local housing solutions that are suitable for future funding applications. Progress will be made by supporting the delivery of the Northern Regional Affordable Housing initiative. Housing Strategy for South Australia More information about how the government is working with private and not-for-profi t providers to improve housing opportunities across the state is available in the new Housing Strategy for South Australia. Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 13

14 Affordable Energy South Australians spend an average 3.3% of their household income on energy and households in the lowest quintile spend up to 5%. SPREADING BILL PAYMENTS NATIONAL ENERGY CUSTOMER FRAMEWORK ENERGY CONCESSIONS & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Now ENERGY SAVING HELP AND ADVICE ENERGY AND WATER OMBUDSMAN BEST DEAL FOR ENERGY DEREGULATION OF ENERGY PRICES 14 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future

15 A recent survey showed that 90% of people who participated in energy saving activities such as replacement light globes and shower heads were happy with the experience, with many going on to pursue other energy saving initiatives. UTILITIES LITERACY PROGRAM AND REPLACEMENT METER POLICY Future REVIEW OF THE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY SCHEME BETTER BILLING OPTIONS Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 15

16 Affordable Energy Energy affordability in South Australia Energy is critical to the health and wellbeing of all South Australians, which is why the Government of South Australia is committed to delivering a safe, reliable energy supply. Households in South Australia spend on average 3.3% of their household income on energy with the lowest income households spending 5% 1 on average. Energy help available now There are many things you can do to make your energy bills more manageable. Energy saving help and advice The less energy you use, the less you need to pay for. There are lots of easy ways to cut wasted energy without affecting your lifestyle or health. Free help and advice is available at sa.gov.au/energy or you can call the Government of South Australia s Energy Advisory Service on You can ask your energy provider if you are eligible for energy saving activities or an energy audit under the Residential Energy Effi ciency Scheme (REES). You can also do your own home energy audit by borrowing a Home Energy Toolkit for free from your local library. The toolkit contains practical tips to help you save. Spreading your bill payments Paying your energy bills monthly, fortnightly or even weekly will help you manage your cash fl ow and avoid a large quarterly bill. You can ask your energy provider about payment options. Get the best deal for energy You need to ensure you are not paying too much for energy. The Commonwealth Government s energy price comparison service, Energy Made Easy, can help you quickly fi nd the best deal for your circumstances. You can visit energymadeeasy.gov.au or call Energy concessions and financial assistance If you are on a low or fi xed income, you may be eligible for a concession on your energy bill. The energy concession is calculated at a daily rate up to $165 per year and is for electricity and gas, although it is usually paid on the electricity bill. The Medical Heating and Cooling Concession can assist you if you have a qualifying medical condition requiring the frequent use of heating or cooling in your home. This concession is $165 per year. Information is available at sa.gov.au/concessions or by calling If you are facing utility debt, other support includes the Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme and emergency fi nancial assistance. In an additional $120,000 was allocated to the Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme and the criteria amended to enable more people to receive payments. To fi nd out if you re eligible, contact a fi nancial counsellor on National Energy Customer Framework In the Government of South Australia introduced strengthened protection for energy customers through the National Energy Customer Framework, which included help for people unable to pay their energy bills. 16 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 1 Australian Bureau of Statistics Household Expenditure Survey

17 It means you can be assured that if you are having fi nancial diffi culties, your energy provider must assist you. You can only be disconnected as a last resort. If your energy bills are getting on top of you, you need to speak to your energy provider to see how they can help. Energy Ombudsman If you don t get the help you need or you have a dispute with your energy provider that can t be resolved, contact the Energy and Water Ombudsman of South Australia on You can also get free advice from a fi nancial counsellor by calling Deregulation of energy prices In 2013, the government deregulated energy prices and negotiated with AGL to discount electricity standing contract prices by 9.1%, cutting average bills by $180 per year. Following deregulation, other energy providers have also offered new discounts to electricity customers. Energy Partners Program Through the Energy Partners Program, the government also liaises with over 80 social and community organisations to help them assist their clients or residents with energy issues. Improving appliance energy efficiency Household appliances are a major contributor to energy bills so the government continues to work with the Commonwealth Government and other state and territory governments to improve energy effi ciency and lower the consumption of key appliances including fridges and freezers, televisions, air conditioners and lights. Future plans for energy affordability Better billing options The government is working with energy providers to improve the payment options available to customers to ensure customers needing assistance receive help to avoid disconnection and fi nancial hardship due to energy-related costs. Many energy providers now allow their customers to pay bills weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Utilities Literacy Program The government has also committed $780,000 each year to a Utilities Literacy Program to help households with utility management and debt, including energy. Review of the Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme The government is currently reviewing the Residential Energy Effi ciency Scheme to give a clear understanding of its effectiveness and guide future decisions about the scheme. A survey undertaken as part of an independent evaluation of the scheme in 2013 showed that 90% of people who received energy saving activities such as replacement light globes and showerheads, were happy with their experience, and many are pursuing other energy saving activities. New and replacement meter policy The government is reviewing the policy of new and replacement electricity meters. Improved metering can empower energy customers by giving them access to their real-time energy use. Improved metering can also enable energy providers to offer different pricing to customers. Additionally, because these meters can be read remotely, people may be able to access more frequent, accurate billing and switch retailers faster. Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 17

18 Affordable Water Water costs account for about 1.1% of all household expenditure. RANGE OF PAYMENT OPTIONS WATER EFFICIENCY STATEWIDE PRICING POLICY CONCESSIONS Now CUSTOMER ASSIST PROGRAMS 18 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future MANAGING WATER USE CONSUMER ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH FUND

19 EARLY INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR HARDSHIP CUSTOMERS CUSTOMER WEB PORTAL Future MORE CHOICE OF PAYMENT OPTIONS SA Water is developing early intervention strategies to ensure hardship customers are identifi ed and receive necessary support early in the debt cycle. Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 19

20 Affordable Water Water affordability in South Australia In many instances people use price as a means of making decisions on consumption of goods and services. Water is viewed as an essential service and unlike other commodities there are some instances where a person is not able to reduce water use in response to higher prices. Consumers most impacted are lower income earners and large families. In 2012 to help reduce the cost of living impacts of increased water prices the government instituted a one-off water rebate for residential households. In 2013 the state government worked with the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) and put forward a reduction in water prices for It is also intended that for the following two years the price of water will not increase by any more than normal Consumer Price Index (CPI). SA Water operates under a statewide pricing policy for water services. This means customers in regional areas pay the same for their water as customers in the city, despite the signifi cantly higher costs associated with servicing regional country areas. The government pays an annual community service obligation to SA Water to refl ect the non-commercial nature of this pricing arrangement. This is a signifi cant subsidy that shields regional consumers from the burden of the full cost of providing water supplies and is an important element of the government s equity, social justice and regional policies. Water help available now Water savings SA Water bills have a pay-for-use component for water use. No one is charged for water they don t use. To assist customers in managing their water use SA Water provides: information on how the household s daily water use compares with similar sized households (included on bills for residential households) water wise information on its website and bills notice of high water use to alert customers to abnormal consumption. Payment options SA Water is committed to providing customers with various payment channels to pay their bills. Customers can pay by regular payments through direct debit, BPay or at Australia Post. Customers can nominate the frequency and value of their payments. For customers experiencing diffi culty in paying, SA Water offers a range of options including payment extensions and ability to pay by instalments. The terms and conditions of these arrangements are made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the customer. Customer Assist Program SA Water s customer assist program helps residential customers who are willing to pay their bill but do not have the fi nancial capacity to do so. Under the program, a case manager will work with a customer to provide a payment plan that best suits them. The focus of the program is to get the customer back on track to maintaining future payments. 20 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future

21 In some instances plumbing assistance can also be provided for repairing and replacing leaking pipes, fi xtures and fi ttings for the purpose of water conservation and debt reduction. For further information or assistance, please contact the SA Water Customer Assist staff on or Concession Those with an eligible Centrelink concession card or those assessed as being on a low income may be eligible to claim a remission on water and sewerage rates. More information is available at sa.gov.au/concessions or by calling In the budget measures, $21.1 million in additional funding over four years was made available for increased water concessions to provide relief to low-income households of approximately $30 per eligible customer per annum. The water concession is available for eligible owner-occupiers and tenants and is calculated at 30% of the total water account over the fi nancial year, subject to minimum and maximum amounts. For owner-occupiers the concession ranges between $185 and $295 per annum, and for tenants between $120 and $230 per annum. The water concession for eligible tenants is lower because tenants are not generally liable for the supply charge component of water bills. Water efficiency The Government of South Australia provides a home rebate scheme, administered by SA Water, to encourage households to achieve greater water savings inside and outside the home. Currently rebates are provided for stand-alone rainwater tanks. SA Water provides: an Irrigated Public Open Space (IPOS) program assisting individual sites to maintain fi t for purpose sports ground or recreational areas while working towards maximum water effi ciency and lower water costs water wise measure permits (e.g. requirements for swimming pool covers) to focus customers on water conservation. SA Water also promotes the WELS and SMART Approved Watermark schemes through their website. These schemes encourage the use of water effi cient appliances. Consumer Advocacy and Research Fund The Consumer Advocacy Research Fund has recently been established under the Water Industry Act 2012 and provides annual funding from water licence fees to support projects, research or advocacy that promote the interests of particular consumer groups, like low-income consumers, consumers with a disability, or consumers who are located within a regional area of the state. Future plans for water affordability Early intervention strategies SA Water is developing early intervention strategies to ensure hardship customers are identifi ed and receive necessary support early in the debt cycle. The proposed strategy, to be in place from January 2014, will use a number of processes to engage customers including: promotion of the Customer Assist Program internally and externally via fl yers, brochures, and forums regular identifying hardship training with front line staff sharing information with the social services sector and energy utilities to identify customers potentially suffering from fi nancial diffi culties regular contact including mail outs and cold calling of customers identifi ed as potentially suffering from fi nancial diffi culties. SA Water will explore options for providing additional payment assistance and incentives for people on the Customer Assist Program. Payment options SA Water will review payment channel options provided to customers and promote paying bills monthly by direct debit. Allowing direct debit by credit card will be considered in this review. SA Water will continue to promote Centrepay as a payment channel for customers on Centrelink benefi ts. Customer Web Portal Development of a web portal is planned to commence in This will provide customers with access to information relating to their water consumption and to charges on their bill. It is hoped that this will enable the customer to monitor water use and manage their bill and bill payments. Electronic billing and bill smoothing will be considered within this project. Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 21

22 Affordable Transport In South Australia, households spend an average of $ on costs associated with transport per week, which represents approximately 14.8% of the total weekly household goods and services expenditure. TRANSPORT CONCESSION CARD TRAM SHUTTLE SERVICE Now CITY LOOP TAXI FARE SUBSIDIES COMPANION CARD 22 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future

23 The government is committed to providing a modernised, accessible and affordable public transport system for all South Australians. FLEXIBLE REGISTRATION OPTIONS EXTENSION OF FREE OFF-PEAK TRAVEL FOR SENIORS VISITOR PASS WITH UNLIMITED TRAVEL INVESTIGATING FARES FOR BRIDGING VISAS Future 28-DAY UNLIMITED TRAVEL PASS COMMUTER CLUB INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AND LAND USE STRATEGY CHEAP SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY FARES Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 23

24 Affordable Transport Transport affordability in South Australia Mobility, accessibility and affordability of transportation play a central role in supporting lifestyle, economic and social opportunities available to South Australians. Universal access is especially important to encourage the disabled and those on low or fi xed incomes to participate equitably in employment, social and recreational opportunities. In South Australia, households spend an average of $ on costs associated with transport per week, which represents approximately 14.8% of the total weekly household goods and services expenditure. 1 Transport help available now Public Transport Public transport fares in South Australia are fl at-structured and are designed to aid social equity by charging fares based on time and transfers, rather than distance. South Australia s public transport services are also heavily subsidised, with fares only equating to approximately 25% of the total cost of providing public transport services. There are currently a number of ways users of public transport can reduce travel costs in South Australia. For example: travel is free for all people using the tram shuttle service between South Terrace, Adelaide and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre a free City Loop bus service is also available, which travels around the city taking in many of Adelaide s attractions accompanied children under fi ve years of age travel free at all times on weekends, school holidays and public holidays two children under 15 years of age travel free when accompanied by an adult using a daytrip ticket all Seniors Card holders travel free between 9:01am and 3pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays passengers who are incapacitated, ex-service personnel or vision impaired travel free (including their guide dogs) the Transport Concession Card entitles eligible recipients on low or fi xed incomes to receive a concession on public transport fares of up to 50% off at all times the Companion Card is issued to people with a permanent disability who require attendant care support. The Companion Card provides the holder with concession rate fares on public transport and allows a companion to travel free of charge other eligible concession card holders such as students and pensioners travel at approximately 50% of the full fare Taxi fare subsidies First introduced in 1987, the South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS) provides subsidised taxi fares for people with permanent and severe disabilities that limit their capacity to use public transport. In December 2006, the government increased the SATSS voucher allowance for members to 80 vouchers every six months (not limited by time) and also increased the subsidy that applies to a maximum fare of $40. Approximately 28,000 SATSS members have used a voucher in the past nine months. 24 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 1 Australian Bureau of Statistics Household Expenditure Survey

25 Future plans for transport affordability The government is committed to providing a modernised, accessible and affordable public transport system for all South Australians. In particular, we want Adelaide to be a vibrant, exciting place to live. An accessible, effi cient and affordable public transport system is a crucial element in achieving this aim. Registration payments Currently, registration payments for light vehicles can only be made for 3 months or 12 months as a single payment through a variety of payment channels. New monthly periodic payments, available from December 2013, will allow light vehicle registration renewals to be made monthly by direct debit from a bank account or credit card. This will offer fl exibility to vehicle owners and help families manage their fi nances by allowing more frequent, but smaller payments to be made by a convenient, automated means. The direct debit scheme requires enrolment to be completed online, with customer communications primarily via electronic means ( or SMS) and the scheme s security is comparable with that used by internet banking. Flexible public transport ticketing options New fl exible public transport ticketing options will be progressively introduced from December 2013, including: 28-day Pass provides Metrocard holders with an option to purchase a 28-day pass for unlimited travel on all Adelaide Metro services, saving daily commuters up to $17.60 per month. This is based on a 12% discount on Monday to Friday return trips, with all additional peak, off-peak and weekend trips free cheap Sunday and Public Holiday fares Sunday and public holiday trips on Adelaide Metro buses, rail or trams will be almost halved to match the existing inter-peak fare. The current $3.29 regular Metrocard weekend fare will be reduced to $1.80 saving the commuter $1.49 per trip extended free travel for seniors for all times other than the morning and afternoon peak weekday periods the current arrangement where seniors can travel for free in off-peak between 9.01am and 3pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays will be extended to include after 7pm and before 7am on weekdays. Commuter Club businesses joining the club can provide employees with the 28-day unlimited travel pass for an additional fi ve per cent discount saving daily commuters up to $23.30 per month. Commuter Club workplaces will also receive tailored route advice to promote public transport to and from work. visitor pass tourists will be able to buy a one, three or fi ve-day pass with unlimited travel on Adelaide Metro services. The Metrocard will be badged with one of South Australia s tourist icons so it can be retained as a keepsake. Bridging Visas At present, an exploration of opportunities for people on Bridging Visas to access reduced fare public transport is being investigated. Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy Consultation is also currently underway to develop an Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy that could benefi t transport affordability. This aims to improve the opportunities for public transport use, ensuring that transport infrastructure supports the needs of the community in new growth areas and higher density developments. The Strategy will also seek to improve the effi ciency of travel for South Australians by reducing travel times and encouraging more active travel. Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 25

26 Affordable Money We are working to provide services and support to help people when they need it most. CONCESSIONS SUPPORT PROGRAMS Now FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 26 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future

27 AFFORDABLE SA HELPLINE FINANCIAL COUNSELLING SUPPORT Future CONSUMER CREDIT LEGAL SERVICE UTILITIES LITERACY PROGRAM The government recently committed additional funding of $4.3 million over four years to enable community based organisations to meet the increased demand for fi nancial counselling support for people suffering fi nancial stress. Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 27

28 Affordable Money Money affordability in South Australia We recognise that at times, some people in our community may need extra money or support to help them get by. This may be only once, for a short time, or it may be for a longer term. Either way, we are working to provide services and support to help people when they need it the most. Money help available now A range of tools to help meet the costs of daily living can be found at There is also a range of support available to people experiencing diffi culty in meeting the costs of daily living on this site. Concessions There is a range of household concessions available to eligible residents. For more information, contact the Concessions Hotline on or visit The state government provides more than $200 million each year in concessions for eligible pensioners and low income households. These include: public transport water and sewerage electricity council rates driver s licence and vehicle registration. Financial Assistance Emergency fi nancial assistance aims to alleviate the immediate impact of fi nancial stress, and, in conjunction with other services, endeavours to strengthen and empower families, build communities and decrease the risks for vulnerable and/or neglected children. A list of agencies providing emergency fi nancial assistance can be found at Support Programs All community members are able to access fi nancial counselling that is free, independent and confi dential. You may be eligible to attend community education workshops or group presentations relating to improved fi nancial management, access to entitlements, community services for low income target groups and basic household management. Call to fi nd a fi nancial counsellor. The Low Income Support Program provides $1.1 million per annum to community organisations to provide services that alleviate the effects of fi nancial hardship, including budgeting information, support and counselling, fi nancial counselling and the provision of micro-fi nance products such as short-term loans. 28 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future

29 Future plans for money affordability Financial Counselling In the State Budget, the government committed additional funding of $4.3 million over four years to enable community-based organisations to meet the increased demand for fi nancial counselling support for people suffering fi nancial stress. The additional funding for fi nancial counselling services is expected to employ between 9 and 12 fi nancial counsellors and aims to provide additional appointments, reduce the waiting time for appointments and deliver more No Interest Loans. Utilities Literacy Program The Government of South Australia has also committed $780,000 to a Utilities Literacy Program to help households with utility management and debt, which includes energy. Consumer Credit Legal Service Additional funding of $1.6 million over four years was also committed for a Consumer Credit Legal Service that will provide specialist casework services and engage in policy development and advocacy. Affordable SA Helpline A further $230,000 has been committed by the state government to investigate the expansion of the existing Financial Counselling Helpline to include support, information and referrals regarding affordability issues. This service is currently provided by the Salvation Army and it is planned that the expanded service, to be known as the Affordable SA Helpline on , will be provided until at least June Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 29

30 Affordable Education There are more than 180,000 children and young people in South Australia who attend government schools and early childhood services. CHILD CARE BENEFIT CHILD CARE REBATE SKILLS FOR ALL Now PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR SCHOOL FEES JOBS, EDUCATION AND TRAINING (JET) CHILDCARE FEE ASSISSTANCE SCHOOL CARD 30 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future

31 PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR SCHOOL FEES INCLUDING INSTALMENTS Future South Australian families can be assured that fees for services are amongst the most affordable nationally. Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future 31

32 Affordable Education Education and childcare affordability in South Australia Quality public school education, early childhood education and care, and child health and protection are all essential services that South Australians expect. The Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) is responsible for providing this broad range of integrated services for families, children and young people. DECD oversees the provision of local family day care, preschool education, children s centres, out of school hours care programs, plus health and wellbeing services that support parents, carers and children. DECD partners with the Commonwealth Government as well as the community sector and local government to integrate all services, with a focus on providing high quality teaching and learning. Education help available now Payment options for school fees In government schools, school fees are known as materials and service charges. The materials and services charge is intended to cover the actual costs of those essential items and services used by the individual student during the course of their year s education. The charge is set by each school governing council, and varies from site to site based on consultation with the local school community. Schools currently offer parents several payment options, including cash, credit card, EFTPOS, and online banking. Payment options will differ between schools and parents should contact their school to discuss these options. In addition, schools should offer parents the option of paying their materials and service charges by instalments, where the instalment arrangements are in writing and negotiated with the parent. School card The department provides fi nancial assistance to eligible families on low incomes on the cost of their children s education through the School Card Scheme. Parents should contact their children s school to discuss applying for a School Card. In a government school, those approved for School Card assistance, are not required to pay the materials and service charges. Further information can be obtained on the website or by contacting DECD on Where a family is experiencing fi nancial hardship but does not qualify for School Card assistance, parents are encouraged to contact the school principal to discuss their circumstances and other options. This is a local school decision. 32 Keeping SA Affordable Now and into the Future