Household Assistance Working Group meeting

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, hosted the second Household Assistance Working Group meeting at Parliament House in Canberra today.

The working group, made up of leaders from community sector organisations, progressed discussions on the design of the generous household assistance package that the Government will deliver together with a price on carbon pollution.

“This second meeting provided an opportunity to further discuss the development of a fair assistance package targeted at low and middle income households, pensioners and other beneficiaries,” Minister Macklin said.

“We also discussed the principles that will help guide the design and elements of assistance for households.”

The Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change Mark Dreyfus said community representatives had a valuable role to play in helping to form the Government’s plans to put a price on carbon pollution, and the assistance package.

“The Government has committed more than 50 per cent of the revenue raised from a carbon price to assisting households.” Mr Dreyfus said.

“The household assistance package will be important to help the transition towards a clean energy future.”

The Gillard Government is also working closely with other federal agencies, as well as State and Territory Governments to ensure this household assistance connects with and complements programs and activities already in place across the country.

The Government’s final household assistance package will be announced in advance of the planned implementation of a carbon price from 1 July 2012.