While VCOSS welcomes the significant investment in the 2009-10 State Budget for bushfire recovery and increasing the capacity of emergency services in response to the 2009 Victorian bushfires, the budget has not provided investment to reduce the risk of climate change to the Victorian community by reducing emissions and investing in the skills, jobs, technology and services that Victorians will need to cope with a changing climate. While policy uncertainty at the federal level complicates the development of state climate change policy, urgent action to address climate change and the impacts of high energy and water prices is required at all levels of government. The lack of investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation in the 2009-10 budget will require greater financial commitments in the anticipated Climate Change White Paper to ensure that Victoria is put on track for an equitable transition to a low-carbon society.
The Victorian budget has provided a welcome $986 million for the essential work of responding to the Victorian Bushfires and rebuilding affected communities, including bolstering the capacity of our emergency services. In particular VCOSS commends the investment of $70 million over two years to provide case management services to people affected by the bushfires.
While case management provides valuable support for individuals affected by the bushfires, the support services required by communities in recovery such as family support, youth, family violence and drug and alcohol services have received no additional funding to meet rising demand in bushfire affected communities. Similarly, the long process of rebuilding bushfire affected areas needs to be complemented by greater investment in community development to rebuild neighbourhoods and communities as well as physical infrastructure.
The heatwave in January 2009 lead to the death of 374 Victorians and caused widespread and costly disruption to energy provision, public transport services and health services. The frequency of extreme temperatures and heatwaves is likely to increase due to climate change.
Despite the urgent need to improve Victoria’s ability to plan for and respond to heatwaves in order to prevent future fatalities, the budget contained no further investment to implement recommendations from heatwave planning work already undertaken by the Department of Human Services as part of the Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Program. Suspending investment in this work at this time is deeply disappointing.
Directly supporting Victorian communities to take action on climate change and adapt to the implications of a changing climate and higher carbon costs is vital to ensure an equitable transition to a low carbon society.
VCOSS commends the Government’s pre-budget announcement allocating funding for the continuation of the Rural Women and Climate Change project until 2011 and the re-announcement and allocation of funding to climate change adaptation through the Future Farming Strategy. While agricultural communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change, so are many other Victorian communities, including low income households and those in coastal areas or who are dependent on fossil fuel intensive industries. These communities also require support to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Investing in jobs creation during tough economic times is critical. However, this investment needs to be targeted towards sustainable green jobs, green industries and energy efficiency – especially in areas with high levels of unemployment. Policies targeting greater energy efficiency, for example, can provide multiple benefits of increased sustainable employment, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased amenity and reduced costs for households.
VCOSS welcomes the commitment of $2.39 million to provide free water audit and retrofits to low income households through the Water Wise program. These audits are provided through water businesses to consumers experiencing financial hardship and difficulty making payments on their water bills.
While this small commitment is welcome, it is disappointing that no similar funding has been provided to energy efficiency measures for low income households. Particularly concerning is the lack of action to improve housing conditions for low income rental households, both public and private.
VCOSS called for the removal of the water concession cap and welcomes the provision of $44.41 million over four years to increase the water and sewerage concession cap by 14.2%. This increase is in line with the average price increase for metropolitan water businesses which will commence on 1 July 2009. Raising the concession cap will also help concessions to keep pace with water price rises for households in rural and regional Victoria.
While welcoming the 14.2% increase in the concession cap this financial year, over the next four years water prices will continue to rise. VCOSS urges the Government to abolish the concession cap to ensure that all households get the full value of the 50 per cent water concession.
Funding allocation for a number of public and active transport projects announced in the Victorian Transport Plan in December 2008 will provide sustainable transport options to more Victorians but continues to leave low income Victorians in most outer suburban areas without alternatives to expensive car travel. (See Transport chapter for further details)