Cost of living is the number one issue in our community right now and I want to hear from you what I can do to help!
I know that higher household bills, grocery prices and the cost of fuel are making it harder for households to make ends meet.
As your State MP, I’m working with our Miles government on how we can help.
We’re doing lots to support locals with cost-of-living pressures, but I think there’s more we can do. If you agree, fill in my survey above to let me know how we can help lower your household bills.
I’m not going to pretend any government can fix inflation or national cost of living pressures, but we have delivered big cost of living relief for locals - and we won’t stop there.
Here’s what we’ve done so far.
Every household will get $550 off their energy bills!
Seniors, Pensioner and Concession Card holders are eligible for up to $1,072 off their energy bills.
Seniors and concession holders who already receive the $372 Queensland Electricity Rebate, will get the additional $700 rebate automatically. The rebate will come off your bills in instalments, which for most people will be $175 off the bill each quarter.
If you do not currently get a pensioner rebate, call your electricity provider to register your Seniors, Pensioner or Concession Card to receive the $1,072 rebate.
Check your eligibility here: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-of-living-support/concessions/energy-concessions/electricity-gas-rebates.
Grocery Price Inquiry
Farmers are getting less for their produce, while us shoppers are paying more at the checkouts.
That's why our Premier Steven Miles, has led the nation, meeting with the big supermarkets and launching a Parliamentary Inquiry into price gouging.
We've made Kindy FREE for every Queensland Family
Our littlest community members deserve the best start in life regardless of their families' income.
FREE KINDY covers the 15hr a week Kindy program, in the year before kids attend school. FREE KINDY will save local parents up to $4,600 a year.
We've made over 70 TAFE courses, including the Diploma of Nursing FREE
10,000 Queenslanders have already taken up the opportunity to get a TAFE qualification for FREE.
Find out more! - Fee Free TAFE
We've expanded the school breakfast program!
Students learn best when they have had a nutritious breakfast to start their school day, so we expanded the school breakfast program to cover more days in local schools.
We've frozen car regos and public transport fares.
Premier Steven Miles has also called on the big banks to lower interest rates, while our Federal Labor Government is giving everyone a tax cut to help with cost of living pressure.
Support for pensioners and seniors
Right now, thousands of older Queenslanders are missing out on up to $1,100 in cost-of-living rebates and other support.
Our Government provides cost of living relief to help seniors and pensioners cover their bills.
Some of the relief available includes:
- Electricity rebate of up to $372.20/year
- Up to $120 a year off water costs
- Up to $200 a year off local government rates
- A free pair of basic prescription glasses every two years
- Discounted public transport travel
- Cheaper car rego
- Home Assist Secure - $500/year for maintenance work around the house
- Free dental
To find out about concessions and rebates and to see if you are eligible, go to https://concessionsfinder.services.QLD.gov.au
Support for households
Some of the support on offer includes:
- Cheaper learner licences - We cut the fee for all learner licences by more than half down to $75 to save families and young drivers starting out.
- Free or cheaper kindy – have your say about us expanding the program: https://earlychildhood.qld.gov.au/early-years/kindergarten/what-does-kindy-cost/kindy-savings
- Discounted public transport fares for children and students
- We are also expanding the Transport Access Scheme (STAS) for free transport to and from school
- Up to $295 per student per year towards textbook costs
- Rental bond loans for private rental accommodation
- Fee-Free Tafe available for eligible Queenslanders
- $150 Swimstart Vouchers
To find out about concessions and rebates and to see if you are eligible, go to https://concessionder.services.QLD.gov.au
