The number of West Aussies putting their hand out for help with utility bills is on track to be the highest in more than five years, as cost-of-living pressures mount.
The Hardship Utility Grants Scheme has been inundated with applications since July 1, with $5.8 million in assistance already handed out up until the end of February.
In the nine months to February, 9343 grants were approved — the equivalent of 38 answered pleas for financial help each day.
If this year’s trend continues, the State Government will be on the hook for more than $8 million in assistance. In the entirety of last year $6 million was paid out to a little over 10,000 applicants.
Despite the State Government paying out $400 in power bill credit to families, and additional Federal support for concession card holders, the increase in grants highlights how cost-of-living pressures continue to hit WA households hard.
WA Council of Social Services chief executive Louise Giolitto said many members of the community were at a crisis point.
“We are hearing of growing demand for emergency relief assistance across all areas of essentials. Perth and most of WA have experienced a hot and uncompromising summer, with people having to make difficult choices about cooling their home, keeping themselves cool and keeping up with the cost of essentials such as rent, transport and food,” she said.
“The Government has significantly funded payments to all Western Australians over the last few years, and these have been essential in helping those in need, but more is required for those doing it the toughest.
“The Government should prioritise concessions reform and targeted energy credits to those households most in need.”
Liberal leader Libby Mettam said the figures showed there was a “new cohort of working poor in Western Australia”.
“Whether it’s teachers who are now living with their parents, whether it’s nurses struggling to make ends meet, whether it’s people living in their cars — there is a new cohort across the Western Australian community while this government is enjoying the largest boom in WA’s history,” she said.
“This is a government who have lost their moral compass during the largest boom we have ever seen in this state.”
A State Government spokesman pointed to the $1400 of electricity credits offered to West Aussies since 2021, and the increase to the HUGS payment as critical relief.
“It’s clear the Liberal Party has no policies, no experience, and no idea how to help Western Australians dealing with cost-of-living pressures,” the spokesman said.
“That’s compared to the Cook Labor Government, which has expanded hardship programs, implemented free public transport initiatives, provided WA Student Assistance Payments to every family in the State, and kept fees and charges increases to under 3 per cent this financial year.
“We are providing cost-of-living relief through a range of measures and will continue to do so in the coming months.”