Australian households could save $5,000 a year by electrifying their homes and cars, AAP reports, and more than 30 organisations will call for incentives and stronger policies in Canberra as part of a national campaign.
The campaign is linked to the international Electrify Now campaign, and follows a COP31 push to raise the global electrification rate from about 20% to 35% by 2035.
Groups including Energy Consumers Australia, the Electric Vehicle Council, Farmers for Climate Action, and Rewiring Australia will launch the campaign at Parliament House, calling for changes to help more Australians replace equipment powered by gas, petrol or diesel.
Energy Efficiency Council policy head Jeremy Sung said:
double quotation markThere’s a role for the Australian government to send a clear signal that electrification is happening and that it’s what the future of our energy system will depend on.
At the moment, federal policy is sending mixed messages.
The government is giving $300m in grants to build crisis and transitional accomodation, that will deliver 500 new homes and support around 19,000 vulnerable Australians.
The housing minister, Clare O’Neil and social services minister, Tanya Plibersek, say the total crisis housing package will support more than 50,000 women and children escaping family violence, and help young people at risk of or already experiencing homelessness.
But the money itself isn’t new: it was previously announced as concessional loans for the sector to help build the accommodation, and will now instead provide direct grants following consultations.
The grants will go to providers including state governments, community housing providers and First Nations organisations.
double quotation markToo often we ask, “why didn’t she leave?,” when we should have asked, where would she go? We know that safe housing is absolutely critical to help women and children leave violence. That’s why we are building more than ever before.
Data from Cotality has shown auction rates were up over the weekend, with almost 60% of homes selling – the highest peak in 19 weeks.
The national preliminary clearance rate hit 58. 5%, a small jump from the 52. 7% recorded last week.
Experts have warned that Australia’s penchant for auctions – we are among the few countries that regularly use them – has helped push prices up.
While the weekend rate was up, there is still an overall decline in the number of houses being sold through auctions.
Speaking to the Australian Financial Review on Sunday, Cotality’s Tim Lawless said the rise in clearance rates should be viewed against a longer-term plunge in volumes.
double quotation markThe number of auctions held was up 11. 4% on a week ago – but held more than 30 per cent lower than a year ago.
Welcome to Guardian Australia’s live coverage for Monday.
Krishani Dhanji will be joining us shortly.