Households

A carbon price will have a modest impact on prices.  But to make sure families can deal with any changes, the Labor Government will provide generous household assistance.

• 9 in 10 households will receive assistance through tax cuts and/or payment increases.
• Almost 6 million households will get tax cuts or increases in payments that cover the entire average price impact.
• Over 4 million Australian households will get an extra buffer with assistance that covers 120% of the average price impact of the carbon price.
• Over 1 million Australians will no longer need to lodge a tax return.
• On average, it will cost households $9.90 per week but they get $10.10 per week in assistance This assistance is permanent and will increase.
• The Government will review the adequacy of assistance each year and will increase it further if necessary.

Australian families have seen electricity price rises, due to underinvestment in network infrastructure by state and territory governments.  This infrastructure includes  850,000 kilometres of poles and wires  which deliver electricity to Australian homes, businesses, hospitals and schools.

This underinvestment has already caused electricity prices to rise, putting pressure on the family budget. Unless this underinvestment is tackled, prices will continue to rise. Tony Abbott and the Liberals don’t want families and households to know the truth about why electricity prices are rising.

A price on carbon will have an impact on electricity prices, but the government has committed to giving households assistance to deal with price rises.

Every cent raised by the carbon price will go to assisting households with price impacts, supporting jobs in the most affected industries and investing in climate change and clean energy programs.

Assistance will be generous, but importantly, it will also be fair.  Assistance will be targeted towards the people who need it most.

You can see what assistance may be available to you by using the Clean Energy Future calculator.