AUG2010 CAROLYNs PINE RIVERS NEWS
State Member for Pine Rivers
Hi! I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone involved in organising and participating in the Dayboro Show. My family and I had a great time at the show.
It is truly an enjoyable family event. I would like to thank the Dayboro Show Society and volunteers for the many hours of hard work they put into organising and running the Show.
Giving Queenslanders a helping hand
The Queensland Government is committed to helping ease cost of living pressures on working families, pensioners and Queenslanders doing it tough.
We understand that when times are tough, every dollar counts.
That’s why we’re lending a helping hand on a number of fronts, including:
Power bills
• Solar Hot Water Rebate – get $600 or $1000 back when you install a new system or heat pump. For more information about the Solar Hot Water Rebate visit www.brightthing.energy.qld.gov.au/solar-hot-water-rebate.html or call 13 GET SOLAR (13 438 76527).
• Solar Bonus Scheme – get 44 cents per kilowatt-hour for all surplus electricity fed back into the Queensland Electricity Grid from your roof-top solar PV panels grid. To access the Solar Bonus Scheme visit www.brightthing.energy.qld.gov.au/solar-bonus-scheme.html or call 13 GET SOLAR (13 438 76527).
Giving Queenslanders a helping hand
The Queensland Government is committed to helping ease cost of living pressures on working families, pensioners and Queenslanders doing it tough.
We understand that when times are tough, every dollar counts.
That’s why we’re lending a helping hand on a number of fronts, including:
Power bills
• Solar Hot Water Rebate – get $600 or $1000 back when you install a new system or heat pump. For more information about the Solar Hot Water Rebate visit www.brightthing.energy.qld.gov.au/solar-hot-water-rebate.html or call 13 GET SOLAR (13 438 76527).
• Solar Bonus Scheme – get 44 cents per kilowatt-hour for all surplus electricity fed back into the Queensland Electricity Grid from your roof-top solar PV panels grid. To access the Solar Bonus Scheme visit www.brightthing.energy.qld.gov.au/solar-bonus-scheme.html or call 13 GET SOLAR (13 438 76527).
• More cash back for pensioners’ power bills – we’ve already increased the rebate available to $190 per year, and from 1 July this year it will increase up to around $216. For more information about concessions on your power bills visit www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/community/concessions/brochure/stategovt/electricity.html or call 13 13 04.
• A new Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Commission Scheme will provide a rebate to assist with the electricity costs for eligible concession card holders with a medical condition who have a dependence on air-conditioning to regulate body temperature. For more information about the Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Commission Scheme visit www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/community/concessions/brochure/stategovt/medical.html or call 13 13 04.
• ClimateSmart Home Service – get the experts in to see what easy steps you can take to save on your power bills. Participants can save up to $325 annually on power bills. To learn more about saving money on your power bills visit www.climatesmarthome.com/ or call 133 600.
Water bills
• An increase to the South East Queensland Pensioner Water Subsidy Scheme – up to $100 cash back for eligible pensioners from July this year. For more information contact your local council, visit www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/community/concessions/brochure/stategovt/water-subsidy.html or call 13 13 04.
Public transport and roads
• Half price travel for pensioners and students using buses, trains and ferries. For more information about discounted travel in South East Queensland visit www.translink.com.au/concessions.php or call 13 12 30. Visit www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/General_information/Qconnect/ for information about public transport services in regional Queensland
• Half price car registration fees (only the registration component) for pensioners. For more information visit www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/ Registration/ or call 13 23 80.
• Discount taxi travel for people with a disability. For more information visit www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Assistance_and_services/Access_and_mobility/Taxi_subsidy_scheme/ or call 1300 134 755.
• Travel subsidies for patients who need access to specialist medical care. The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) provides direct assistance to patients, and in some cases their carers, to enable them to access specialist medical services from which they are isolated. To find out more about the PTSS visit www.health.qld.gov.au/iptu/html/ptss.asp or call 13 HEALTH (13 432 584).
• Our changes to CTP insurance will save motorists money. Preventing motor dealers from receiving commissions will reduce costs by around $20. Visit www.maic.qld.gov.au/about-maic/ctp-scheme.shtml to find out more about the changes to CTP insurance.
• Anyone can save up to 30 per cent on public transport just by buying a go card. Find out more about the go card and ways to purchase one visit www.translink.com.au/go.php or call 13 12 30. If you use your go card between 9.00am and 3.30pm or after 7.00pm, you will receive a further 10 per cent discount.
Health and community safety
• Pensioners get free ambulance cover anywhere in Australia. To find out more about the Queensland Ambulance Service, visit www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/subscribe/faq.asp and read the frequently asked questions or call Smart Service Queensland on 1300 369 003.
Council rates
• Up to $180 back for pensioners each year on their council rates. The Queensland Government’s Pensioner Rate Subsidy Scheme provides a subsidy equal to 20 per cent (up to a maximum of $180 each year) of the gross rates and charges levied by a local government. For more information or to obtain an application form, contact your local council, visit www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/community/concessions/brochure/stategovt/rate.html or call 13 13 04.
First homebuyers
• We’ve abolished mortgage duty and stamp duty for first homebuyers of homes up to $500,000 and first home buyers buying vacant land up to $250,000. First homebuyers save up to $9500 in stamp duty and all homebuyers save around $300 on a $500,000 house in mortgage duty. Visit www.osr.qld.gov.au/duties/transfer-duty/exemptions-and-concessions/home-transfer-duty-concession-rates.shtml to see how much you will save on your mortgage and stamp duty.
• From 1 June 2010, first homebuyers buying newly built homes in the regions will also receive $11,000 from the Queensland Government. First homebuyers in South East Queensland will receive $7,000 from the Queensland Government. Visit www.osr.qld.gov.au/first-home-owner-grant/ for more information.
• Visit the Office of State Revenue www.osr.qld.gov.au for more information on the range of tax concessions available to help Queenslanders own their own home or call 1300 300 734.
• A new Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Commission Scheme will provide a rebate to assist with the electricity costs for eligible concession card holders with a medical condition who have a dependence on air-conditioning to regulate body temperature. For more information about the Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Commission Scheme visit www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/community/concessions/brochure/stategovt/medical.html or call 13 13 04.
• ClimateSmart Home Service – get the experts in to see what easy steps you can take to save on your power bills. Participants can save up to $325 annually on power bills. To learn more about saving money on your power bills visit www.climatesmarthome.com/ or call 133 600.
Water bills
• An increase to the South East Queensland Pensioner Water Subsidy Scheme – up to $100 cash back for eligible pensioners from July this year. For more information contact your local council, visit www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/community/concessions/brochure/stategovt/water-subsidy.html or call 13 13 04.
Public transport and roads
• Half price travel for pensioners and students using buses, trains and ferries. For more information about discounted travel in South East Queensland visit www.translink.com.au/concessions.php or call 13 12 30. Visit www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/General_information/Qconnect/ for information about public transport services in regional Queensland
• Half price car registration fees (only the registration component) for pensioners. For more information visit www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/ Registration/ or call 13 23 80.
• Discount taxi travel for people with a disability. For more information visit www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Assistance_and_services/Access_and_mobility/Taxi_subsidy_scheme/ or call 1300 134 755.
• Travel subsidies for patients who need access to specialist medical care. The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) provides direct assistance to patients, and in some cases their carers, to enable them to access specialist medical services from which they are isolated. To find out more about the PTSS visit www.health.qld.gov.au/iptu/html/ptss.asp or call 13 HEALTH (13 432 584).
• Our changes to CTP insurance will save motorists money. Preventing motor dealers from receiving commissions will reduce costs by around $20. Visit www.maic.qld.gov.au/about-maic/ctp-scheme.shtml to find out more about the changes to CTP insurance.
• Anyone can save up to 30 per cent on public transport just by buying a go card. Find out more about the go card and ways to purchase one visit www.translink.com.au/go.php or call 13 12 30. If you use your go card between 9.00am and 3.30pm or after 7.00pm, you will receive a further 10 per cent discount.
Health and community safety
• Pensioners get free ambulance cover anywhere in Australia. To find out more about the Queensland Ambulance Service, visit www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/subscribe/faq.asp and read the frequently asked questions or call Smart Service Queensland on 1300 369 003.
Council rates
• Up to $180 back for pensioners each year on their council rates. The Queensland Government’s Pensioner Rate Subsidy Scheme provides a subsidy equal to 20 per cent (up to a maximum of $180 each year) of the gross rates and charges levied by a local government. For more information or to obtain an application form, contact your local council, visit www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/community/concessions/brochure/stategovt/rate.html or call 13 13 04.
First homebuyers
• We’ve abolished mortgage duty and stamp duty for first homebuyers of homes up to $500,000 and first home buyers buying vacant land up to $250,000. First homebuyers save up to $9500 in stamp duty and all homebuyers save around $300 on a $500,000 house in mortgage duty. Visit www.osr.qld.gov.au/duties/transfer-duty/exemptions-and-concessions/home-transfer-duty-concession-rates.shtml to see how much you will save on your mortgage and stamp duty.
• From 1 June 2010, first homebuyers buying newly built homes in the regions will also receive $11,000 from the Queensland Government. First homebuyers in South East Queensland will receive $7,000 from the Queensland Government. Visit www.osr.qld.gov.au/first-home-owner-grant/ for more information.
• Visit the Office of State Revenue www.osr.qld.gov.au for more information on the range of tax concessions available to help Queenslanders own their own home or call 1300 300 734.
Until next time
Carolyn
