The New South Wales Government has announced the 2017-18 State Budget, with funding to help protect the community, environment and support industry in the state.
The NSW Government has expanded its emergency assistance to include more welfare groups that can offer the state’s most vulnerable energy customers help to pay electricity and gas bills, with rebates to total more than $1 billion over four years.
Minister for Resources, Energy and Utilities, Don Harwin, said, “We estimate as many as 900,000 vulnerable customers will be given assistance with their energy bills through our many rebates programs.
“We encourage people to apply through Service NSW and their retailer for the government rebates. We are concerned some eligible households might not be aware of the help available to them and could be missing out.”
With Sydney Water bills reducing by $100 on average, the NSW Government is investing $3.1 million in its WaterSmart Cities program for projects where urban water supports the natural environment and healthy communities.
Highlights from the 2017-18 Budget include:
- $1 billion in energy rebates over four years to help address cost of living pressures
- $119 million from the Climate Change Fund to help boost energy security and help households and businesses save money and energy
- $38.2 million to enable, support and focus the mining and petroleum industries on preventing workplace injury and illness
- $24 million in initiatives funded from the Coal Innovation Fund, including $5 million in grants for research programs to reduce emissions from coal
- $6.5 million for the New Frontiers Initiative in support of mineral and petroleum exploration in regional NSW
- $3.1 million on the WaterSmart Cities program
- $1.1 million to complete final actions in the Renewable Energy Action Plan
