By Daniela De Martino
SCHOOL SAVING BONUS
Happy new year! I hope this finds you well and refreshed!
School’s back and this time of the year can be particularly expensive for parents.
We know many families are experiencing cost of living pressures, which is why our State Government has introduced the $400 School Saving Bonus (SSB).
The SSB is available to all students in State Schools and eligible students in non-Government schools.
If your child attends a non-Government school and is eligible for the means-tested Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund, then they are also entitled to the SSB.
The SSB can be used towards 2025 school costs, which may include camps, trips, excursions and incursions; swimming and sporting programs; outdoor education programs; graduations; school uniforms and textbooks.
If you’re experiencing difficulty accessing the SSB, please don’t hesitate to contact my office – we’d be more than happy to help.
NETWORK OUTAGE REVIEW – GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Following the February 13 storm event which caused widespread damage and prolonged power outages across the state but particularly our hills and foothills, our State Government initiated the independent Network Outage Review.
The Review was led by an Independent Expert Panel, which met with affected communities in Monbulk, Cockatoo, Emerald, and Gembrook and ensured that the electricity businesses heard firsthand the experiences of those impacted.
In response, our Government will strengthen oversight and accountability of electricity businesses by requiring them to report on their emergency risk management practices annually – including emergency resources, systems, processes and arrangements with contractors to undertake repair works.
I know many who missed out on the Prolonged Power Outage Payment were frustrated by the seven-day qualifying timeframe and this was also made clear during the review.
As a result, we’ll help Victorians impacted by prolonged outages get access to emergency funds sooner – the new payment scheme will require distribution businesses to financially support customers during prolonged power outages after 72 hours.
Our Government will also formalise resource sharing arrangements between all network businesses to ensure they have the right staff in the right place for a quick response to outages to reduce restoration times.
Distribution businesses will also have to participate in Regional Emergency Management Planning Committees and participate in emergency exercises to test the implementation of these recommendations.
We’re working to ensure privately-owned electricity transmission and distribution businesses are better equipped to prevent, prepare for, and respond to severe weather events.
MOBILE OFFICES
This year, I’ll be holding mobile offices at more locations across the electorate, allowing those who cannot make it to my Belgrave office to have additional opportunities to come and meet with me to discuss any State-related matters.
If you have an issue you’d like to raise, please contact my office on 9754 5401 or via email to find a suitable time to meet. If you send an email and don’t receive an auto-reply within a few minutes, it means I haven’t received your email. Please call during business hours and we’ll assist you.
