State concessions and hardship program 2011-124 State concessions and hardship programs: 2011–12...

State concessions and hardship programs 2011–12

iv State concessions and hardship programs: 2011–12iv State concessions and hardship programs: 2010–11

If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, please phone the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required, or email [email protected]

This document is also available in PDF format on the Internet at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/concessions

Published by the Concessions Unit, Corporate Services, Victorian Government Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, February 2013

© Copyright State of Victoria 2013

This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.

ISSN 2200–1670

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

[0891112]

v

Contents

Introduction 1

Concessions objectives and policy context 2

Concessions Summary 12

Education Concessions 13

Education Conveyance Allowance 13

Education Maintenance Allowance 13

Kindergarten Fee Subsidy 14

Tuition Fee Youth Concession 14

Energy concessions 15

Annual Electricity Concession 15

Life Support Concession for electricity 16

Medical Cooling Concession 17

Off-Peak Concession 18

Service to Property Concession 18

Transfer Fee Waiver 19

Winter Energy Concession for gas 19

Non-Mains Energy Concession 21

Health concessions 23

Ambulance Victoria 23

Dental Health 23

Primary and Community Health Services 24

Property concessions 25

Municipal Rates Concession 25

Stamp Duty Concession 26

Transport concessions 27

Multi Purpose Taxi Program 27

Public Transport 27

Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Insurance Concession 29

Vehicle Registration Concession 29

Water concessions 31

Water and Sewerage Concession 31

Haemodialysis — Life Support Concession 32

Non-Mains Water Concession 32

vi State concessions and hardship programs: 2011–12

Other services 34

Bereavement Assistance 34

Carer Card 34

Charity Freight 35

CISVic 35

Foodbank Victoria 36

Good Shepherd Buying Service 37

Pet Registration Concession 37

State Trustees 37

Utility Relief Grants Scheme — electricity 38

Utility Relief Grants Scheme — gas 39

Utility Relief Grants Scheme — water 39

Utility Relief Grants Scheme — non-mains 40

Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) 40

Water and Sewerage Connection Scheme 42

List of tablesTable 1: Concessions in operation 5

Table 2: Concession card summary 8

Table 3: Education Conveyance Allowance summary 13

Table 4: Education Maintenance Allowance summary 13

Table 5: Kindergarten Fee Subsidy summary 14

Table 6: Annual Electricity Concession summary 15

Table 7: Life Support Concession for electricity summary 16

Table 8: Medical Cooling Concession summary 17

Table 9: Off-Peak Concession summary 18

Table 10: Service to Property Concession summary 18

Table 11: Transfer Fee Waiver summary 19

Table 12: Winter Energy Concession for gas summary 19

Table 13: Non-Mains Energy Concessions summary 21

Table 14: Ambulance Victoria summary 23

Table 15: Municipal Rates Concession summary 25

Table 16: Stamp Duty Concession summary 26

Table 17: Multi Purpose Taxi Program Concession summary 27

Table 18: Public Transport summary 27

Table 19: Metropolitan public transport concession ticket sales 28

vii

Table 20: Metropolitan public transport myki money and myki pass sales 28

Table 21: TAC Insurance Concession summary 29

Table 22: Vehicle Registration Concession summary 29

Table 23: Water and Sewerage Concession summary 31

Table 24: Haemodialysis – Life Support Concession summary 32

Table 25: Non-Mains Water Concession summary 32

Table 26: Bereavement Assistance summary 34

Table 27: Charity Freight summary 35

Table 28: CISVic summary 35

Table 29: Foodbank Victoria summary 36

Table 30: Good Shepherd Buying Service summary 37

Table 31: State Trustees summary 37

Table 32: Utility Relief Grant Scheme — electricity summary 38

Table 33: Utility Relief Grant Scheme — gas summary 39

Table 34: Utility Relief Grant Scheme — water summary 39

Table 35: Utility Relief Grant Scheme — non-mains energy summary 40

Table 36: VCOSS summary 40

Table 37: Water and Sewerage Connection Scheme summary 42

List of figuresFigure 1: Weekly income thresholds, June 2011 7

Figure 2: Concession cardholders, June 2003 to June 2011 8

Figure 3: Concession cardholders by concession card type, June 2011 9

Figure 4: Concession cardholders by age, June 2011 9

Figure 5: Concession cardholders by type of payment, June 2011 10

Figure 6: Centrelink concession cardholders by number of dependents, June 2011 11

Figure 7: Annual Electricity Concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12 16

Figure 8: Winter Energy Concession for gas — 2003–04 to 2011–12 20

Figure 9: Non-mains energy concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12 22

Figure 10: Municipal rates concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12 25

Figure 11: Stamp Duty Concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12 26

Figure 12: Water and Sewerage Concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12 31

Figure 13: Non-Mains Water Concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12 33

viii State concessions and hardship programs: 2011–12

1

Introduction

In 2011–12 the Victorian Government spent approximately $1.5 billion providing concession programs to more than 1.4 million Victorians.

Concessions are designed to assist low-income earners in Victoria to access and afford essential services such as housing, water, energy, health, education and transport. Affordable access to services is essential for participation in social and economic life and provides the basis for a fair and equitable society.

One of the highlights of the concession program in 2011–12 was the growth in the assistance provided through the Victorian Government’s electricity concession program. 852,000 households received electricity concessions in 2011–12. This represents an increase of 38,000 households compared with 2010–11. In 2011–12 Victorian concession cardholders received an electricity concession for the whole year. In previous years, concession cardholders only received an electricity concession for part of the year, for six months over winter. Expenditure on the program increased from $90.7 million in 2010–11 to $135.4 million in 2011–12.

This annual report details the concession programs provided by the Victorian Government for low-income Victorians during the 2011–12 financial year.

The report also provides an analysis of the value and distribution of concessions to concession cardholders and information about the characteristics of the concession cardholding population.

2 State concessions and hardship programs: 2011–12

Concessions objectives and policy context

Concessions Objectives and Policy ContextThe Commonwealth Government is responsible for welfare policy, and assists low–income households through the provision of benefits and pensions and the taxation system. The Victorian State Government supplements these benefits and pensions with State concessions and hardship programs.

The Victorian Government’s concessions and hardship programs operate within the context of the Commonwealth Government’s overall strategy for assisting low-income and vulnerable Victorians.

The Victorian Government has a strong commitment to addressing cost of living pressures on Victorian families. Victoria currently spends $1.5 billion per annum on the provision of concessions to 1.4 million low-income Victorians.

Victorian Families StatementThe key policy document that informs concessions and hardship programs is the 2011 Victorian Families Statement. The Statement lays the groundwork for ongoing assessment of people’s circumstances and challenges and how we are progressing in creating a Victoria in which all families have a chance to achieve their aspirations. The Government has made clear that it wants to give people help where they need it, and its desire for genuine and ongoing discussion about progress.

A key focus of the 2011 Victorian Families Statement is on helping families manage their bills to ease the budget strain. The Government continues to recognise that families are paying significantly more for some essentials including utilities and the pressure that further price rises are placing on household budgets. In particular, families on low incomes (who spend a greater percentage of their income on essential items) have been disproportionally affected by price increases. Some people are doing it very tough, experiencing difficulties in feeding their families.

Families are the cornerstone of Victoria’s communities. Victorian families and households come in many shapes and sizes including blended, step or extended families, single parents, same-sex couples, group households and people choosing to live alone. However the quality of family life is a common concern for all.

The 2012 Victorian Families Budget Information Paper 2 released in May 2012 reiterates the Government’s commitment to continuing to support low-income and vulnerable Victorian families who are most exposed to cost-of-living pressures.

2011–12 Victorian BudgetThe 2011–12 budget built on the previous year’s package and the continued significant investment in concessions, providing additional funding for concessions for essential services such as energy, water and municipal rates. These budget commitments:

•supported the first full year of operation of the Annual Electricity Concession program (2011–12) providing a 17.5 per cent discount on electricity bills to all year round, and provided electricity concessions to an estimated 38,000 additional households

3

• increased the maximum annual Water and Sewerage Concession by 10.3 per cent from $245 in 2010–11 to $270.20 in 2011–12 in recognition of rising water bills, at a cost of $62.9 million over four years to help more than 700,000 households, including an additional estimated 32,000 households who received the concessions for the first time during the financial year

• increased the Stamp Duty concession threshold for pensioners and concession card holders from $440,000 to $750,000 from 1 July 2011

•cut TAFE fees for young Health Care Card holders, by investing $62.5 million over four years to re-establish concession places at TAFE for any 15 to 24 year-old with a Health Care Card to study a Diploma or Advanced Diploma for just $100, instead of the normal $2,000 tuition fee.

State Concessions Act 2004The State Concessions Act 2004 is the governing legislation for State concessions. The legislation is an enabling framework that empowers the Minister for Community Services to specify the structure and level of available concessions by Ministerial Order.

In June 2012, updated concession orders for the 2012–13 year were issued for water, gas, electricity and municipal rate concessions.

The Department of Human ServicesThe Department of Human Services supports Victorians in need to build better lives and achieve their potential. The department does this by providing housing and community services and programs so that individuals and families are supported and can participate in their community, the economy and life.

The concessions program contributes to the department’s objectives of:

• Immediate support: With our partners we support people in crisis and help individuals and families get their lives back on track

•Capabilities and participation: With our partners we work with families, individuals, young people and communities to improve their lives through building capabilities and resilience, supporting participation in work, education and the community

•Quality of life: With our partners we provide services to support people in need to enjoy a positive life.


Concessions in operationFunding and managementThe Department of Human Services is responsible for reporting on concessions across the State Government. The Government funds concessions either through direct funding or foregone revenue arrangements.

Table 1 provides an overview of concessions in operation including the funding, administration and delivery arrangements for each concession.

How do concessions work?Concessions are provided by the Victorian Government across a broad range of services, and vary in their structure and value. Several of the major concessions (for example electricity and gas) are delivered as entitlement programs. State concessions provide discounts on household bills or through discounted or subsidised services provided to individuals such as reduced public transport fares and low-cost dental services. They are an essential supplement to income support for many concession households, particularly those on lower fixed incomes.

Concessions and hardship programs provide low-income and vulnerable households the support they need to manage the cost of essential services, reducing the incidence of supply disconnection, accumulating debts and selling items or going without to pay utility bills.

As well as assisting with the ongoing affordability of essential services, the Victorian Government also works with water and energy companies to help mitigate hardship among low-income and vulnerable households that have high or unmanageable water and energy debts. Utility relief grants are provided to assist concession cardholders who are unable to pay electricity, gas or water bills and who have incurred large utility debts.

The primary purpose of state concessions is to ease cost of living pressures and provide opportunities for social and economic participation for low-income and vulnerable Victorians by making essential goods and services more affordable. This enables more people to maintain access to essential goods and services and sustain better living standards, health and wellbeing, reducing their reliance on government-funded health services.

Concessions also serve to improve the quality of life of retirees on a moderate income, war veterans and others. These groups are considered to deserve public support in order to achieve a higher than basic standard of living.

The overview of concessions in Table 1 shows whether the concession benefits the household or individual and how each concession is paid to the eligible cardholder.

Who benefits?Concessions are provided to Victorians who hold a Commonwealth Government-issued Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card. Concessions are also provided to eligible holders of a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Repatriation Health Card (Gold Card). Table 1 includes a summary of the general eligibility for each concession.

Pensioner Concession Cards and Health Care Cards are issued by the Commonwealth Government to individuals who receive particular payments or allowances from Centrelink. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card is issued to veterans of Australia’s defence forces who meet particular criteria relating to type of service, disability or income and assets tests.

5

Tab

le 1

: Con

cess

ions

in o

per

atio

n: f

und

ing,

man

agem

ent,

elig

ibili

ty a

nd p

aym

ent

arra

ngem

ents

Con

cess

ion

Fund

ing

arra

ngem

ent

Ad

min

iste

red

by

Del

iver

ed b

y

Con

cess

ion

card

el

igib

ility

Ben

efits

Pai

d a

s

PC

CH

CC

DVA

Mun

icip

al r

ates

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DH

SLo

cal c

ounc

ils3

73

Hou

seho

ldR

educ

ed b

ill

Sta

mp

duty

Fore

gone

rev

enue

Sta

te R

even

ue

Offi

ceS

tate

Rev

enue

Offi

ce3

33

Hou

seho

ldR

educ

ed b

ill

Wat

er a

nd s

ewer

age

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DH

SW

ater

cor

pora

tions

33

3H

ouse

hold

Red

uced

bill

Non

-mai

ns w

ater

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DH

SD

HS

33

3H

ouse

hold

Reb

ate

on e

xpen

ditu

re

Life

sup

port

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DH

SE

lect

ricity

ret

aile

rs3

33

Hou

seho

ldR

educ

ed b

ill

Ann

ual e

lect

ricity

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DH

SE

lect

ricity

ret

aile

rs3

33

Hou

seho

ldR

educ

ed b

ill

Med

ical

coo

ling

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DH

SE

lect

ricity

ret

aile

rs3

33

Hou

seho

ldR

educ

ed b

ill

Off-

peak

ele

ctric

ityD

irect

fund

ing

by

Sta

te G

over

nmen

tD

HS

Ele

ctric

ity r

etai

lers

33

3H

ouse

hold

Red

uced

bill

Ser

vice

to

prop

erty

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DH

SE

lect

ricity

ret

aile

rs3

33

Hou

seho

ldR

educ

ed b

ill

Tran

sfer

fee

wai

ver

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DH

SE

lect

ricity

ret

aile

rs3

33

Hou

seho

ldR

educ

ed b

ill

WE

C fo

r ga

sD

irect

fund

ing

by

Sta

te G

over

nmen

tD

HS

Gas

ret

aile

rs3

33

Hou

seho

ldR

educ

ed b

ill

Non

-mai

ns e

nerg

yD

irect

fund

ing

by

Sta

te G

over

nmen

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HS

DH

S3

33

Hou

seho

ldR

ebat

e on

exp

endi

ture

Pub

lic t

rans

port

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DoT

DoT

33

3In

divi

dual

Red

uced

fare

Mot

or v

ehic

le r

egis

trat

ion

Fore

gone

rev

enue

Vic

Roa

dsV

icR

oads

33

3In

divi

dual

Red

uced

fee

TAC

insu

ranc

e Fo

rego

ne r

even

ueV

icR

oads

Vic

Roa

ds3

73

Indi

vidu

alR

educ

ed fe

e

6 State concessions and hardship programs: 2011–12Ta

ble

1: C

once

ssio

ns in

op

erat

ion:

fun

din

g, m

anag

emen

t, el

igib

ility

and

pay

men

t ar

rang

emen

ts (c

ont.)

Con

cess

ion

Fund

ing

arra

ngem

ent

Ad

min

iste

red

by

Del

iver

ed b

y

Con

cess

ion

card

el

igib

ility

Ben

efits

Pai

d a

s

PC

CH

CC

DVA

Edu

catio

n co

nvey

ance

al

low

ance

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DE

EC

DD

EE

CD

33

3H

ouse

hold

/

Fam

ilyR

eim

burs

emen

t of

act

ual

fare

incu

rred

Kin

derg

arte

n fe

e su

bsid

yD

irect

fund

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by

Sta

te G

over

nmen

tD

EE

CD

DE

EC

D a

nd k

inde

rgar

tens

33

3H

ouse

hold

/

Fam

ilyR

educ

ed fe

es

Tuiti

on fe

es

Fore

gone

rev

enue

DE

EC

DD

EE

CD

and

TA

FE c

olle

ges

33

3In

divi

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Red

uced

fees

Den

tal h

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Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

DH

DH

and

Den

tal H

ealth

S

ervi

ces

Vic

toria

33

3In

divi

dual

and

de

pend

ants

Full

or p

artia

l bill

redu

ctio

n

Prim

ary

heal

thD

irect

fund

ing

by

Sta

te G

over

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tD

HD

H a

nd p

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y he

alth

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re p

rovi

ders

33

3In

divi

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and

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pend

ants

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or p

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l bill

redu

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n

Am

bula

nce

Dire

ct fu

ndin

g by

S

tate

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DH

Am

bula

nce

Vic

toria

33

3In

divi

dual

and

de

pend

ants

Free

ser

vice

Mul

ti-pu

rpos

e ta

xiD

irect

fund

ing

by

Sta

te G

over

nmen

tD

oTTa

xi c

ompa

nies

33

3In

divi

dual

sR

educ

ed fe

es

Util

ity r

elie

f gra

nt s

chem

eD

irect

fund

ing

by

Sta

te G

over

nmen

tD

HS

DH

S, e

nerg

y re

taile

rs &

w

ater

cor

pora

tions

33

3

Pro

of o

f ha

rdsh

ip

requ

ired

Gra

nts

to c

over

out

stan

ding

bills

7

Profile of people accessing concessionsIncome thresholdsThe income level to obtain a concession card varies depending on the household situation of the applicant. In general, concession card holders are on low incomes compared with the rest of the population. Figure 1 shows that the weekly income threshold to qualify for and retain a Low Income Health Care Card is lower for a range of household situations than average adult full-time weekly earnings. The rate for a single person with no children to qualify for a low-income Health Care Card is 36 per cent of the average weekly earnings for an adult working full time.

Figure 1: Weekly income thresholds for Low Income Health Care Card and average adult weekly full-time earnings, June 2012

Table 2 shows that as at June 2012, 1.4 million concession cards were held by Victorians (some held more than one card). There was an increase of 0.9 per cent (or 12,833) cards from June 2011.

Between June 2011 and June 2012, by card type, there were:

•25,674 additional Pensioner Concession Card holders

•8,620 fewer Health Care Card holders and

•4,221 fewer Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold or Pensioner Concession Card holders.

The increase in Pensioner Concession Cardholders between June 2011 and June 2012 is principally due to:

•an increase of 14,305 in the number of aged pension recipients

•an increase of 4,274 carer pension recipients

•an increase of 3,659 disability support pension recipients.

The decline in the number of Department of Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession and Gold Card holders over the previous six years continued as would be expected given the ageing of war veterans and war widows.

Wee

kly

inco

me

(gro

ss)

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

To retain cardTo qualify for card

Single or couplewith four children

Single or couplewith one child

Couple (combined)Single no children

Full-time adult ordinary time earnings

$483

$604

$838

$1,048

$838

$1,048$940

$1,175

$1,352


Table 2: Concession card summary

Type of card 2010–11 2011–12

Pensioner Concession Card* 907,335 933,001

Health Care Card 436,952 428,322

DVA PCC and Gold Card 63,464 59,243

Total 1,407,751 1,420,566

Sources: Centrelink, Department of Veteran’s Affairs*Centrelink PCC only

The time series in Figure 2 shows the longer-term trends in concession cardholder numbers.

Figure 2 shows the fluctuations in the number of concession card types from June 2003 to June 2012. Over this nine year period:

•All card numbers increased overall by 124,893 cards or 9.6 per cent

•Pensioner Concession Card holder numbers has increased by 158,036 or 20 per cent

•Health Care Card holder numbers has increased by 3,613 or 1 per cent

•Department of Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession and Gold Card holder numbers has decreased by 36,756 or 38 per cent.

A complex range of factors influence the long-term trend in numbers of concession cardholders in Victoria, including changes to Commonwealth Government income security policy, the ageing of the population, the increasing number of self-funded retirees, the rate of unemployment and changes in economic activity.

Figure 2: Concession cardholders June 2003 to June 2012

Source: Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs

When converted to percentages, figure 3 shows that 66 per cent of concession cardholders hold a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card, 30 per cent hold a Health Care Card and four per cent hold a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession or Gold Card.

$0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

$700,000

$800,000

$900,000

$100,0000

DVA Concession CardHealth Care CardPensioner Concession Card

Jun–12Jun–11Jun–10Jun–09Jun–08Jun–07Jun–06Jun–05Jun–04Jun–03

9

Figure 3: Concession cardholders by concession card type, June 2012


Approximately 25 per cent of all Victorians hold a concession card. This has remained constant from 2005–06 to 2011–12.

Figure 4 shows the age breakdown of concession cardholders by type of card. As expected, Pensioner Concession Card holders are generally older than Health Care Card holders. The overwhelming majority (76 per cent) of Health Care Card holders are between the ages of 16 and 44, whereas 60 per cent of Pensioner Concession Card holders are 65 and over. Eighty-eight per cent of Department of Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession and Gold Card holders are aged 65 or older.

Figure 4: Concession cardholders by age, June 2012


DVA

HCC

PCC

66%

4%

30%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%DVA

PCC

HCC

75+65–7455–6445–5435–4425–3416–240–15

DVAPCCHCC


Figure 5 shows the breakdown of concession cardholders by Centrelink payment type. The largest group of concession cardholders are age pensioners, accounting for 557,657 or 39 per cent of all concession cardholders. A further 268,653 (19 per cent) are parents and carers, and 213,980 (15 per cent) are disability pensioners. Low–income earners (people who do not qualify for a Centrelink payment but hold a Commonwealth Low Income Health Care Card) make up 152,352 (11 per cent) of all concession cardholders. Department of Veterans’ Affairs cardholders make up four per cent of all concession cardholders.

As at June 2012, the proportion of age pensioners with a full rate pension was 59 per cent. The remaining 233,000 aged pensioners or 41 per cent received a part rate pension due to their private income or assets exceeding Commonwealth thresholds.

Figure 5: Concession cardholders by type of payment, June 2012


Figure 6 shows the proportions of Centrelink concession cardholders by the number of dependents. Eighteen per cent of Centrelink cardholders, or 247,364 cardholders, have one or more dependent children (Centrelink’s definition of a dependent child includes students who are living at home up to the age of 24). As would be expected due to the payment types that qualify for the different concession cards, Health Care Card holders are more likely to have dependent children than Pensioner Concession Card holders (28 per cent compared to 14 per cent).

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

OtherDVApensioners,veterans &

widows

No payment(Low income)

UnemployedDisabilitypensioners

Parents &carers

Agepensioners

11

Figure 6: Centrelink concession cardholders by number of dependents, June 2011


Wee

kly

inco

me

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

To retain cardTo qualify for card

Single or couplewith four children

Single or couplewith one child

Couple (combined)Single no children

Full time male ordinary time earnings

$446

$557

$743

$929

$777

$971

$879

$1,099$1,132

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%PCC

HCC

4 or more3210PCCHCC


Concessions in 2010–11 to 2011–12: summary

Output Expenditure

Concessions Output 2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

Education Conveyance Allowance

Claims 48,111 44,648 $28,947,961 $30,375,397

Education Maintenance Allowance

Students 205,392 208,488 $60,380,879 $61,797,191

Kindergarten Fee Subsidy Children 18,279 18,038 $14,988,780 $15,242,110

Annual Electricity Households 814,488 852,404 $90,687,648 $135,394,749

Life support - electricity Households 4,327 3,925 $1,147,617 $1,374,704

Medical Cooling Households 7,511 7,855 $497,919 $576,067

Off Peak Households 167,602 179,046 $7,621,907 $8,467,160

Service to Property Households 51,110 64,526 $3,523,650 $5,667,969

Transfer Fee Households 50,884 35,236 $1,116,738 $866,781

WEC for gas Households 614,588 558,156 $59,335,080 $54,157,425

Non-Mains Energy Rebates 22,814 23,997 $3,002,574 $4,092,691

Ambulance Victoria Occasions of service 392,329 405,744 $324,173,678 $340,751,000

Municipal Rates Households 418,394 423,327 $88,729,462 $81,980,597

Stamp Duty Transfers 6,334 6,329 $52,049,947 $59,317,536

Multi Purpose Taxi Program Trips 4,400,000 4,418,703 $47,100,000 $52,709,684

Public Transport Tickets 34.0 28.5 $119,835,804 $124,299,000

TAC Insurance Vehicles 714,805 590,155 $125,140,136 $106,160,922

Vehicle Reg. Vehicles 1,074,323 974,471 $78,320,627 $81,182,505

Water and Sewerage Households 669,308 669,263 $135,348,086 $144,359,649

Life support - water Households 411 522 $40,794 $99,119

Non-Mains Water Households 857 1,334 $123,422 $199,855

Other Services

Concessions Output 2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

Bereavement Assistance Funerals 319 369 $333,407 $343,860

Charity Freight – – – $1,454,116 $1,113,294

CISVic Client contacts 309,244 296,934 $234,923 $242,284

Foodbank Victoria Million kgs of aid 4.1 5.1 $1,932,302 $1,672,975

Good Shepherd Buying Service

Recipients 5,905 4,255 $86,005 $112,706

State Trustees Limited Clients 14,921 14,019 $18,162,087 $16,154,882

URGS – electricity Grants 13,707 12,532 $5,235,339 $5,467,199

URGS – gas Grants 7,923 7,035 $2,649,044 $2,807,727

URGS – water Grants 2,894 3,769 $1,079,411 $1,444,854

URGS – non-mains Grants 96 160 $30,997 $47,009

VCOSS – – – $966,686 $880,090

Water and sewerage connection grant

Grants 61 47 $269,867 $277,622

13

Education Concessions

Education Conveyance AllowanceTable 3: Education Conveyance Allowance summary

Output (claims) Expenditure

2010 2011 2010 2011

48,111 44,648 $28,947,961 $30,375,397

The Department of Education and Childhood Development (DEECD) provides financial assistance in the form of a conveyance allowance to assist families with the cost of transporting their children to attend their closest appropriate school/campus in rural and regional Victoria. The conveyance allowance is available to students attending schools located in rural and regional Victoria in recognition of the often limited government-provided transport infrastructure available. Transport assistance is available to families in rural and regional areas that are able to demonstrate financial hardship and attend their closest appropriate school/campus.

In 2011 DEECD approved 44,648 claims for this allowance. This represents a decrease of 3,463 claims or 7.2% from the previous year. The department provided $30,375,397 in funding for these allowances in 2011. This represents an increase of $1,427,436 or 4.9% from the previous year.

More information about this program is available at the following DEECD web page: www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/safety/pages/transport.aspx.

Education Maintenance AllowanceTable 4: Education Maintenance Allowance summary

Output (students) Expenditure

2010 2011 2010 2011

205,392 208,488 $60,380,879 $61,797,191

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) provides financial assistance to families on a low income to help with the cost of essential educational items such as textbooks, stationery, uniforms and excursions. EMA applications are made by parents/guardians and submitted to schools. The EMA is a means-tested payment — parents must hold a Centrelink/Veterans Affairs concession card to be eligible. In 2011, the EMA amount was $230 per primary student and $460 per secondary student. At present, half of the EMA payment goes to schools and half is provided direct to parents.

In 2011 208,488 students received the Education Maintenance Allowance. This represents an increase of 3,096 students or 1.5% from the previous year.

In 2011 151,564 parents and guardians received the EMA. 119,884 of parents and guardians receiving the EMA sent their children to a government school and 31,680 sent their children to a non-government school.

In 2011 total expenditure on the allowance was $61,797,191. This represents an increase of $1,416,312 or 2.3% from the previous year.

More information about this program is available at the following DEECD web page: www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/finance/pages/ema.aspx.


Kindergarten Fee SubsidyTable 5: Kindergarten Fee Subsidy summary

Output (children) Expenditure

2010 2011 2010 2011

18,279 18,038 $14,988,780 $15,242,110

The kindergarten fee subsidy helps eligible children attend kindergarten by meeting the cost of 10 hours and 45 minutes of kindergarten per week. Kindergarten services claim the fee subsidy from the Department on behalf of families. The kindergarten fee subsidy rate for 2011 is $845 per child. It is paid to kindergarten services as part of normal payment processes.

Families with an eligible concession card, or with a child who is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or families with triplets or quadruplets attending in the same year, are eligible for the subsidy.

In 2011 DEECD provided Kindergarten Fee Subsidies for 18,038 children. This represents a decrease of 241 children or 1.3% from the previous year. In 2011 the department provided $15,242,110 in funding for these subsidies. This represents an increase of $253,330 or 1.7% from the previous year.

More information about this program is available at the following DEECD web page: www.education.vic.gov.au/ecsmanagement/careankinder/funding/subsidy.

Tuition Fee Youth ConcessionThe concessions scheme for vocational training in Victoria has been revised to ensure that student fees remain lower for eligible concession card holders than for other students.

For all new commencements from 1 July 2012, and for all students from 1 January 2013, students with a concession card will pay 20 per cent of what non-concession students are charged. For example, in a course where a non-concession student is charged $1,000, a concession student will be charged $200.

For courses above Certificate IV, under the Indigenous Completions Initiative, Indigenous students will pay 20 per cent of what the provider would have charged a non-concession student. This fee change for Indigenous students applies for new enrolments from 1 July 2012.

Existing concession card students studying in 2012 will continue to pay the current concession fee for any course they have already commenced until 31 December 2012 and will transition to the new concession fee rates from 1 January 2013 should their course continue into 2013.

More information about these changes is available at the following DEECD web page: www.education.vic.gov.au/training/Pages/default.aspx.

15

Energy concessions

Annual Electricity ConcessionTable 6: Annual Electricity Concession summary

Output (households) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

814,488 852,404 $90,687,648 $135,394,749

The Annual Electricity Concession is available to help ease cost of living pressures by providing concession cardholders with a discount of 17.5 per cent off household electricity bills. The program was expanded from 1 March 2011 to provide eligible Victorians with 17.5 per cent off their electricity bills right throughout the year, rather than just during winter.

From 1 July 2012, a threshold for gas and electricity concessions was introduced to take into account the Commonwealth’s carbon tax compensation. This is so that households are not compensated by two levels of government for the same expense.

The Commonwealth compensation represents a subsidy of $171.60 for electricity across the year. So for a concession card holder’s annual electricity bill, the State Government concession will not apply to the first $171.60.

This change does not affect the average net position of those Victorians receiving energy concessions.

The Commonwealth Government estimates that the new carbon price will increase electricity bills by 10 per cent. In dollar terms this equates to an average of $3.30 per week or $171.60 per annum. If the Commonwealth Government’s projections of the impost of the carbon tax are incorrect and rises in electricity prices are greater than anticipated and compensated, the Victorian Government’s ongoing concession arrangements will ensure State Government concessions are available to cover the extra costs above those compensated by the Commonwealth.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Annual Electricity Concession to 852,404 households. This represents an increase of 37,916 households or 4.7 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $135,394,749 on Annual Electricity Concessions. This represents an increase of $44,707,101 or 49.3% per cent from the previous year.

The average grant (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of households) was $159. This represents an increase of $47 per household or 42.7 per cent from the previous year.

Figure 7 shows the change in expenditure and the number of households receiving the Annual Electricity Concession over the past eight years.


Figure 7: Annual Electricity Concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12

Source: Concessions Unit, Department of Human Services

More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/energy/annual-electricity-concession.

Life Support Concession for electricityTable 7: Life Support Concession — electricity summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

4,327 3,925 $1,147,617 $1,374,704

This concession provides a quarterly discount on electricity and/or water bills where a household member uses an eligible life support machine. This concession is available to both renters and homeowners all year round. For electricity bills, the discount is equal to the cost of 1,880 kilowatt (470 kilowatt per quarter) hours of electricity used each year, calculated using the general domestic tariff of the customer’s retailer.

Qualifying machines are those that use at least 1,880 kilowatt hours per annum.

Machines already approved are:

• intermittent peritoneal dialysis machines (electricity)

•oxygen concentrators (electricity)

•haemodialysis machines (electricity and water).

Most continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machines do not meet this threshold.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Life Support Concession to 3,925 households. This represents a decrease of 402 households or 9.3 per cent from the previous year.

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In 2011–12 the department spent $1,374,704 on Life Support Concessions. This represents an increase of $227,087 or 19.8% from the previous year.

The average concession (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of households) was $350. This represents an increase of $85 per household or 32.1% from the previous year.

More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/energy/life-support-machine-electricity-concession.

Medical Cooling ConcessionTable 8: Medical Cooling Concession summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

7,511 7,855 $497,919 $576,067

This concession provides a 17.5 per cent discount on summer electricity costs for cardholders where a member of the family has a medical condition that affects the body’s ability to regulate temperature.

There are many qualifying conditions which include:

•Multiple sclerosis

•Lymphoedema

•Parkinson’s disease

•Fibromyalgia

•Post-polio syndrome/poliomyelitis

•Motor neurone disease

•Scleroderma

•Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

This concession is available from 1 November to 30 April each year, with applications accepted throughout the year. The concession is given in addition to the Annual Electricity Concession.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Medical Cooling Concession to 7,855 households. This represents an increase of 344 households or 4.6 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $576,067 on Medical Cooling Concessions. This represents an increase of $78,148 or 15.7% per cent from the previous year.


More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/energy/medical-cooling-concession.


Off-Peak ConcessionTable 9: Off-Peak Concession summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

167,602 179,046 $7,621,907 $8,467,160

This concession provides a 13 per cent discount on the off-peak tariff on electricity bills. The off-peak tariff applies to households that have separately metered electric hot water or slab heating. This concession is available all year round. The off-peak electricity concession is not available in relation to the flexible or time-of-use tariffs enabled by a smart electricity meter or similar technology.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Off-Peak Concession to 179,046 households. This represents an increase of 11,444 households or 6.8% per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $8,467,160 on Off-Peak Concessions. This represents an increase of $845,253 or 11.1 per cent from the previous year.


More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/energy/off-peak-electricity-concession.

Service to Property ConcessionTable 10: Service to Property Concession summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

51,110 64,526 $3,523,650 $5,667,969

This concession provides a discount on the electricity service charge where a household has very low electricity usage. The usage charge must be less than the service charge. The discount reduces the service charge to the cost of the total electricity usage for the billing period. This concession is available all year round, but only covers bills where the customer is eligible.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Service to Property Concession to 64,526 households. This represents an increase of 13,416 households or 26.2 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $5,667,969 on Service to Property Concessions. This represents an increase of $2,144,319 or 60.9 per cent from the previous year.

The average grant (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of households) was $88. This represents an increase of $19 per household or 27.4% from the previous year.

19

More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/energy/service-to-property-charge-concession.

Transfer Fee WaiverTable 11: Transfer Fee Concession summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

50,884 35,236 $1,116,738 $866,781

The Transfer Fee Waiver concession waives the fee that is normally payable to electricity retailers when cardholders move house.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Transfer Fee Concession to 35,236 households. This represents a decrease of 15,648 households or 30.8 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $866,781 on Transfer Fee Concessions. This represents a decrease of $249,957 or 22.4 per cent from the previous year.


More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/energy/electricity-transfer-fee-waiver.

Winter Energy Concession for gasTable 12: Winter Energy Concession for gas summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

614,588 558,156 $59,335,080 $54,157,425

The Winter Energy Concession for gas is available to help ease cost of living pressures by providing concession cardholders with a discount of 17.5 per cent off mains gas bills from 1 May to 31 October of each year.

From 1 July 2012, a threshold for gas and electricity concessions was introduced to take into account the Commonwealth’s carbon tax compensation. This is so that households are not compensated by two levels of government for the same expense.

The Commonwealth compensation represents a subsidy of $62.40 for gas across the six winter months of the year. So for a concession card holder’s winter gas bill, the State Government concession will not apply to the first $62.40.

This change does not affect the average net position of those Victorians receiving energy concessions.


The Commonwealth Government estimates that the new carbon price will increase gas bills by nine per cent. In dollar terms this equates to an average of $1.50 per week or $78 per annum. Approximately 80 per cent of the cost of gas is incurred during the six winter months. The increase in gas bills during this six month period is therefore equal to $62.40.

If the Commonwealth Government’s projections of the impost of the carbon tax are incorrect and rises in gas prices are greater than anticipated and compensated, the Victorian Government’s ongoing concession arrangements will ensure State Government concessions are available to cover the extra costs above those compensated by the Commonwealth.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided this concession to 558,156 households. The number of households receiving this concession is estimated from the number of concession claims reported to the department. This represents a decrease of 56,432 households or 9.2 per cent from the previous year. The main reason for the decrease relates to errors in the data reported to the department by several gas retailers. There has been no change in eligibility criteria for this concession. The errors were identified by the department through its ongoing audit program. The department’s auditors have confirmed that the errors in the retailers’ computer systems have now been corrected. The introduction of new data integrity mechanisms during 2011–12 will reduce the possibility of these problems occurring again in the future.

In 2011–12 the department spent $54,157,425 on mains gas concessions. This represents a decrease of $5,177,655 or 8.7 per cent from the previous year.

The average grant (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of households) was $97. There has been no change in the average grant from the previous year.

Figure 8 shows the change in expenditure and the number of households receiving the mains gas concession over the past eight years.

Figure 8: Winter Energy Concession for gas — 2003–04 to 2011–12


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2011–122010–112009–102008–092007–082006–072005–062004–052003–04

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More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/energy/winter-energy-concession.

Non-Mains Energy ConcessionTable 13: Non-Mains Energy Concession summary

Output (rebates) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

22,814 23,997 $3,002,574 $4,092,691

This concession assists cardholders who rely on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), firewood or heating oil for domestic heating, cooking or hot water, or who access non-mains electricity via an embedded network, or who rely on a generator. Special conditions apply for firewood.

The amount of the rebate depends on the annual amount of each non-mains energy purchased.

The rebate amount for 2012 on each utility is as follows:

•$43 rebate if you spend from $100 to $242.99

•$128 rebate if you spend from $243 to $729.99

•$213 rebate if you spend from $730 to $1,214.99

•$304 rebate if you spend $1,215 or more.

Rebates are reviewed each year.

All non-mains energy costs are covered from 1 January to 31 December each year.

From 1 March 2011, the concession for non-mains electricity was extended from six months to 12 months. All non-mains energy costs are now covered from 1 January to 31 December each year.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Non-Mains Energy Concession to 23,997 households. This represents an increase of 1,183 households or 5.2 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $4,092,691 on Non-Mains Energy Concession. This represents an increase of $1,090,117 or 36.3 per cent from the previous year.

The average concession (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of households) was $171. This represents an increase of $39 per household or 29.6 per cent from the previous year.

Figure 9 shows the change in expenditure and the number of households receiving the Non-Mains Energy Concession over the past eight years.


Figure 9: Non-Mains Energy Concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12


More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/energy/non-mains-energy.

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23

Health concessions

Ambulance VictoriaTable 14: Ambulance Victoria Concession summary

Output (Occasions of service) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

392,329 405,744 $324,173,678 $340,751,000

Under the State Concessions Scheme, the Victorian Government provides Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card holders with free ambulance and non-emergency patient transport services (where authorised as medically necessary) to the nearest appropriate medical facility anywhere in Australia. This includes road and air ambulance transports.

In 2011–12, Ambulance Victoria provided emergency and non-emergency transport for concession cardholders across Victoria on 405,744 occasions, an increase of 3.0% or 11,835 transports over the previous year.

This includes both services undertaken by Ambulance Victoria and (non-emergency) services contracted to private providers, but coordinated and paid for by Ambulance Victoria. Private providers are paid for concessional transports at agreed contract rates, and are not in any way impacted by, or aware of, the concessional status of the patient.

The revenue foregone by Ambulance Victoria in providing these services in 2011–12 was $340.8 million. This represents an increase of 5.1% or $16.6 million over the previous year.

More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Health web page: www.health.vic.gov.au/ambulance/guidelines/concessions.htm.

Dental HealthPublic dental services are provided to eligible Victorians through community dental clinics in community health services, rural hospitals and the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.

In 2011–12 Dental Health Services Victoria treated 329,078 people across Victoria.

The following groups are eligible for public dental health services:

•Children and young people

•All children aged 0–12 years

•Young people aged 13–17 years who are health care or pensioner concession card holders or dependants of concession card holders

•All children and young people up to 18 years of age, who are in out-of-home care provided by the Children Youth and Families Division of the Department of Human Services

•All youth justice clients in custodial care, up to 18 years of age

•People aged 18 years and over, who are health care or pensioner concession card holders or dependants of concession card holders

•All refugees and asylum seekers

•All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are treated at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.


The following groups have priority access to public dental care:

•Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

•Children (0–12 years) and young people

•Homeless people and people at risk of homelessness

•Pregnant women

•Refugees and asylum seekers

•Registered clients of mental health and disability services, supported by a letter of recommendation from their case manager or staff of special developmental schools.

More information about this service is available at the Dental Health Services Victoria website: www.dhsv.org.au.

Primary and Community Health ServicesPrimary and Community Health Services aim to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians, particularly people with, or at risk of, poorer health.

Services include: community health, child health, dental health, diabetes self-management, early intervention in chronic disease, family planning, general practice engagement, health services for homeless youth, health self help, integrated health promotion, nurse-on-call, refugee health and support for pregnant women.

The Department of Health manages service delivery and new primary health initiatives through its relationships with the primary health sector, as well as other key partners including: the ambulatory care sector, acute and post-acute health care sectors, aged care services, the human services sector, mental health services, local government, General Practice Victoria, other government departments and researchers.

More information about these services is available at the following Department of Health web page: www.health.vic.gov.au/pch.

25

Property concessions

Municipal Rates ConcessionTable 15: Municipal Rates Concession summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

418,394 423,327 $88,729,462 $81,980,597

This concession provides a 50 per cent discount on council rates up to a yearly maximum of $198.00 for 2012–13. This concession is available to homeowners and must be for their principal place of residency. The concession is available from 1 July to 30 June with applications accepted throughout the year. The concession is available to ratepayers who hold a pensioner concession card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card (marked TPI, War Widow, EDA or POW).

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Municipal Rates Concession to 423,327 households. This represents an increase of 4,933 households or 1.2 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $81,980,597 on Municipal Rates Concessions. This represents a decrease of $6,748,865 or 7.6 per cent from the previous year.

The average concession (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of households) was $194. This represents a decrease of $18 per household or 8.7 per cent from the previous year.

Figure 10 shows the change in expenditure and the number of households receiving the Municipal Rates Concession over the past eight years.

Figure 10: Municipal Rates Concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12


More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/rates-and-property/municipal-rates.

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Stamp Duty ConcessionTable 16: Stamp Duty Concession summary

Output (transfers) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

6,334 6,329 $52,049,947 $59,317,536

This concession provides an exemption from stamp duty for cardholders purchasing property up to $330,000 in value. A sliding scale of partial exemptions is available for properties with a value of more than $330,000, but not more than $750,000 (effective 1 July 2011).

In 2011–12 the State Revenue Office provided the Stamp Duty Concession for 6,329 transfers. This represents a decrease of 5 households or 0.1 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the Office spent $59,317,536 on Stamp Duty Concessions. This represents an increase of $7,267,589 or 14.0 per cent from the previous year.

The average grant (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of transfer) was $9,372 per transfer. This represents an increase of $1,155 per transfer or 14.1 per cent from the previous year.

Figure 11 shows the change in expenditure and the number of concession grants made for the Stamp Duty Concession over the past eight years.

Figure 11: Stamp Duty Concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12


More information about this concession is available at the following State Revenue Office web page: http://www.sro.vic.gov.au/sro/sronav.nsf/childdocs/-3A87315B22BC23FFCA2575A100441F59-CD1B48B2849A0120CA2575C1008058E7-18E490D796850F8ECA2575C1008187C7-66A7F44FC5AE1703CA2575B400240554.

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Transport concessions

Multi Purpose Taxi ProgramTable 17: Multi Purpose Taxi Program summary

Output (trips) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

4,400,000 4,418,703 $47,100,000 $52,709,684

The Victorian Taxi Directorate provides a 50 per cent discount on taxi fares, up to a maximum of $60 per trip (annual limit $2,180), for permanently and severely disabled people. To be eligible for the program, members must be permanent Victorian residents and have a disability that affects their ability to use public transport independently.

As at 30 June 2012 there were 163,777 members of the Multi Purpose Taxi Program, of whom 90,510 were considered to be active members, having used the program during 2010–11. Eighty per cent of members were aged 60 or older.

During 2010–11 4.42 million trips were taken, at an average of 48.8 trips per active member. This represents an increase of 18,703 trips or 0.4% from the previous year.

The total subsidy provided during 2010–11 was $52,709,684. This represents an increase of $5,609,684 or 11.9 per cent from the previous year.

More information about this concession is available at the following Victorian Taxi Directorate web page: www.taxi.vic.gov.au/passengers/mptp.

Public TransportTable 18: Public Transport Concession summary

2010–11 2011–12

DHS funding $119,835,804 $124,299,000

Forgone revenue $161,200,000 $150,900,000

Concession fares are available on train, tram and bus services within metropolitan Melbourne, regional town bus services and V/Line ticketed train and coach services operating within Victoria.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services spent $124,299,000 on Public Transport Concessions. This represents an increase of $4,463,196 or 3.7 per cent from the previous year.


The following table shows sales of Metcards by ticket type during 2010–11 and 2011–12:

Table 19: Metropolitan public transport Metcard ticket sales

2010–11 2011–12

Two Hour 16,427,634 14,304,129

Daily 11,420,438 9,865,681

Seniors Daily 2,895,892 2,093,162

Book – 5 x Daily 402,488 250,380

Book – 10 x Two Hour 1,417,265 970,239

Weekly 531,176 316,842

City Saver 108,935 81,954

Monthly 197,875 110,000

Off Peak Daily (Zones 1 & 2) 489,282 428,534

Book – 10 x City Saver 5,468 3,633

Sunday 68,385

Other 36,110 36,348

Total 34,000,948 28,460,902

Concession tickets represented approximately 20 per cent of the dollar value of sales of myki money and myki passes in 2011–12.

The following table shows myki money and myki pass sales for 2011–12:

Table 20: Metropolitan public transport myki sales

myki money

2 Hour 116,550,834

Daily 53,276,467

Seniors Daily Cap Zone 1+2 449,388

Weekend Daily cap (Zone 1 and/or Zone 2) 4,897,611

Total 175,174,301

myki pass

myki pass 86,161,635

Myki SPass Half Yearly 1 10 1,333,411

Myki SPass Half Yearly 2 10 1,756,700

Myki Student Yearly 11,392,782

Victorian Student First Half Yearly 1,781

Victorian Student Second Half Yearly -239

Victorian Student Yearly 47,240

Total 100,693,309

More information about public transport concessions is available at the following Department of Transport web page: ptv.vic.gov.au/fares-tickets/concessions/

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Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Insurance ConcessionTable 21: TAC Insurance Concession summary

Output (vehicles) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

714,805 590,155 $125,140,136 $106,160,922

The TAC Insurance Concession provides a 50 per cent reduction on the TAC charge for a concession cardholder’s registration bill. There is a limit of one vehicle per concession card.

In 2011–12 VicRoads provided the TAC Insurance Concession on 590,155 vehicles. This represents a nominal decrease of 124,650 vehicles or 17.4 per cent from the previous year. There has been a change in counting rules from 2010–11 to 2011–12. In 2010–11 the number of transactions was used to calculate the number of vehicles receiving the concession. As some people pay their car registration every six months this was counted as two transactions. From 2011–12 onwards, the number of vehicles is based on the number of actual recipients regardless of the number of transactions they may have had during the year.

In 2011–12 VicRoads spent $106,160,922 on TAC Insurance Concessions. This represents a decrease of $18,979,214 or 15.2 per cent from the previous year.

The average grant (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of concessions granted) was $180 per vehicle. This represents an increase of $5 per vehicle or 2.8 per cent from the previous year.

More information about the Transport Accident Charge concession is available at the Transport Accident Commission website: http://www.tac.vic.gov.au.

Vehicle Registration ConcessionTable 22: Vehicle Registration Concession summary

Output (vehicles) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

1,074,323 974,471 $78,320,627 $81,182,505

The Vehicle Registration Concession provides a 50 per cent reduction on the motor vehicle registration fee component of the registration bill, where the cardholder or their spouse is the registered operator of the vehicle. There is a limit of one vehicle per concession card. For holders of the DVA Gold Card (TPI or EDA) a 100 per cent reduction on the motor vehicle registration fee applies.

In 2011–12 VicRoads provided the Vehicle Registration Concession for 974,471 vehicles. This represents a decrease of 99,852 vehicles or 9.3 per cent from the previous year. In 2011–12 VicRoads spent $81,182,505 on Vehicle Registration Concessions. This represents an increase of $2,861,878 or 3.7 per cent from the previous year.


The average concession (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of concessions granted) was $83 per vehicle. This represents an increase of $10 per vehicle or 14.3 per cent from the previous year.

More information about this concession is available following vicroads web page: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Registration/RenewCancelOrUpdateRegistration/ConcessionsAndDiscounts.

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Water concessions

Water and Sewerage ConcessionTable 23: Water and Sewerage Concession summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

669,308 669,263 $135,348,086 $144,359,649

This concession provides a 50 per cent discount on water and sewerage charges up to an annual maximum of $277.00 for 2012–2013. Customers who are billed for a single service, for example, water only, will receive 50 per cent off water charges up to a maximum of $138.50. This concession is provided for the whole year.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Water and Sewerage Concession to 669,263 households. This is approximately the same number as in the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $144,359,649 on Water and Sewerage Concessions. This represents an increase of $9,011,563 or 6.7 per cent from the previous year.

The average grant (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of households) was $216. This represents an increase of $13 or 6.7 per cent from the previous year.

Figure 12 shows the change in expenditure and the number households receiving the Water and Sewerage over the past eight years.

Figure 12: Water and Sewerage Concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12


More information about this concession is available following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/water/water-and-sewerage-concession.

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

140.0

160.0

500,000

520,000

540,000

560,000

580,000

600,000

620,000

640,000

660,000

680,000

Households

2011–122010–112009–102008–092007–082006–072005–062004–052003–04

Expenditure

Exp

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($m

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Hou

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Haemodialysis — Life Support ConcessionTable 24: Life Support Concession — water summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

411 522 $40,794 $99,119

The Haemodialysis – Life Support Concession provides a quarterly discount on water bills where a household member uses an eligible life support machine. This concession is available to both renters and homeowners all year round. The discount is equal to the cost of 168 kilolitres (42 kilolitres per quarter) of water used each year. This discount is only applicable for haemodialysis machines.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Haemodialysis – Life Support Concession to 522 households. This represents an increase of 111 households or 27.0% from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $99,119 on this concession. This represents an increase of $58,325 or 143.0% from the previous year.

More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/energy/life-support-machine-electricity-concession.

Non-Mains Water ConcessionTable 25: Non-Mains Water Concession summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

857 1,334 $123,422 $199,855

This concession assists cardholders who are not connected to mains water with the costs of purchasing non-mains water for domestic usage, for example, when buying carted water for rainwater tanks, or buying water via a billing agent or water cooperative. This concession is available from 1 July to 30 June each year, with applications accepted throughout the year. The rebate is $103 in 2012–13, and cardholders can apply for up to three rebates each financial year, depending on how much is spent on non-mains water. The rebate is indexed each year.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Non-Mains Water Concession to 1,334 households. This represents a decrease of 477 households or 55.7 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $199,855 on Non-Mains Water Concessions. This represents an increase of $76,433 or 61.9 per cent from the previous year.


Figure 13 shows the change in expenditure and the number of households receiving the Non-Mains Water Concession over the past eight years.

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Figure 13: Non-Mains Water Concession — 2003–04 to 2011–12


More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/water/non-mains-water.

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

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400

600

800

1,000

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1,800


2011–122010–112009–102008–092007–082006–072005–062004–052003–04

Exp

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Hou

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Bereavement AssistanceTable 26: Bereavement Assistance summary

Output (funeral) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

319 369 $333,407 $343,860

The Victorian Government funds Bereavement Assistance Limited to provide memorial services, burials and cremations for those deceased who have insufficient means, and whose next-of-kin are unable or unwilling to pay the cost of the funeral.

Funeral costs such as the cost of burial, cremation, funeral service, mortuary costs, funeral transport and death certificate costs are funded through the agreement. Most of the deceased whose funerals are funded under the agreement are aged pensioners or disability pensioners.

The Department of Human Services provided funding for 369 funerals in 2011–12. This represents an increase of 50 funerals or 15.7 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department provided $343,860 in funding for Bereavement Assistance Services. This represents an increase of $10,453 or 3.1 per cent from the previous year.

More information about this service is available at Bereavement Assistance Limited’s web page: www.bereavementassistance.org.au.

Carer CardThe Carer Card is a Victorian Government initiative recognising primary unpaid carers in Victoria.

This card is a free discount and benefits card for a range of products and services provided by government and private businesses.

Additional benefits of the card are free public transport on Sundays with a free Sunday pass and two return off-peak travel vouches for travel anywhere in Victoria.

Carer cardholders can also enjoy discounted entries to many State Government venues such as zoos, museums and various festivals.

As at the end of June 2012 there were approximately 25,000 Care Cardholders and 1,400 business and local government services from which carers could receive discounts and other benefits.

More information about this concession is available at the Carer Card website: carercard.vic.gov.au/

Other services

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Charity FreightTable 27: Charity Freight Service summary

Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12

$1,454,116 $1,113,294

The Department of Human Services manages and funds the State Government’s charity freight service that provides eligible charities with free transportation across Victoria for charitable goods. Charitable goods that are transported as part of the freight service include food, clothing, books and toys.

Asixa Logical Outcomes Pty Ltd has been engaged to deliver freight services on behalf of charitable organisations.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided $1,113,294 in funding for Charity Freight Services.

CISVicTable 28: CISVic summary

Output (client contacts) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

309,244 296,934 $234,923 $242,284

CISVic is the peak body for the community information and support sector in Victoria and has been in operation since 1970. There are currently 60 CISVic member agencies throughout the state. CISVic assists its member agencies to provide support services to all in their local community, particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged people. CISVic’s key areas of service to members include operational support, sector development, representation, advocacy and research.

CISVic member agencies provide a diverse range of services including information, referral, advocacy, emergency relief, case management, tax help, personal counselling, financial counselling, No Interest Loans, and legal advice. The membership distributes over $3 million worth of emergency relief annually to individuals and families who are in financial hardship. This may be in the form of food parcels, food vouchers, assistance to pay medical, utility and education bills, travel cards, Telstra vouchers and phone cards and assistance to pay rent or emergency housing costs.

CISVic agencies employ almost 200 paid staff but the majority of work is undertaken by in excess of 2,500 trained volunteers. CISVic ensures that members use volunteers who have undertaken nationally accredited training to equip them with the skills required to assist clients with complex needs. Paid staff are provided with professional development opportunities, peer support and networking.

In 2011–12 CISVic and its members had 296,934 client contacts.


In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided $242,284 in funding to CISVic. This represents an increase of $7,361 or 3.1 per cent from the previous year.

More information about these services is available at CISVic’s website: http://www.cisvic.org.au.

Foodbank VictoriaTable 29: Foodbank Victoria summary

Output (million kgs of aid) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

4.1 5.1 $1,932,302 $1,672,975

Foodbank Victoria, the new name for VicRelief Foodbank, has provided food and material aid to Victorians since 1930. The Victorian State Government contributes recurrent funding to cover the majority of salaries, administration, operating and accommodation costs to enable it to collect donations of food and material aid to be distributed through more than 500 emergency relief agencies and 60 schools across the State.

Foodbank Victoria remains the only state-wide provider of all food types: groceries, fresh, frozen, fruit and vegetables that are distributed to the needy and vulnerable through the emergency relief sector. Foodbank Victoria is also a provider of bathroom and laundry products so that they address not only food, but all shopping basket pressures on families and individuals.

Foodbank Victoria is formally a provider to the Victorian State Government as part of its Emergency Management Plan to provide food as part of the Relief and Recovery phases. The State government has provided specific funding over 3 years to ensure 200 emergency relief packs are available for immediate distribution should an emergency be declared.

In 2011–12 the amount of food and material aid distributed by Foodbank Victoria was 5.1 million kilograms, which is approximately 1 million kilograms higher than what was distributed in 2010–11. The main reasons for the increase supply are:

•more fresh fruit and vegetables being sourced and distributed

•greater use of the ‘Collaborative Supply Program’ where manufacturers make product to order specifically for Foodbank through donated ingredients

•more efficient use of Charity Freight service .

•the development of the Community Food Share network (community run regional warehouses) that has enabled 500,000 kgs of food to be sourced and redistributed within a local food network

A recent survey by Foodbank of their agencies, called the End Hunger Report, revealed that across many food categories there is as much as 50% shortfall in what is provided versus what is needed to meet the demand from those seeking assistance. Foodbank Victoria is therefore planning for continued growth to approximately 10 million kgs per annum.

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In 2011–12 the department provided Foodbank Victoria with $1,672,975 in funding. This represents a decrease of $259,327 or 13.4 per cent from the previous year. The main reason for this outcome relates to the ending of non-recurrent funding in 2010–11.

More information about these services is available at Foodbank Victoria’s website: www.foodbankvictoria.org.au.

Good Shepherd Buying ServiceTable 30: Good Shepherd Buying Service summary

Output (service recipients) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

5,905 4,255 $86,005 $112,706

Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service delivers the Buying Service — a free state-wide telephone service which aims to get lower prices for low-income Victorians purchasing white goods and other essential household items.

The Department of Human Services supports the Buying Service through a service agreement with Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service.

In 2011–12 Good Shepherd assisted 4,255 clients.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided $112,706 in funding to Good Shepherd. This represents an increase of $26,701 or 31.0 per cent from the previous year.

More information about these services is available at Good Shepherd’s website: www.goodshepvic.org.au/buyingservice.

State TrusteesTable 31: State Trustees Limited summary

Output (clients) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

14,921 14,019 $18,162,087 $16,154,882

State Trustees Limited provides financial and legal services to people who are unable to manage their own affairs because of illness or disability. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) appoints State Trustees as a financial and legal administrator when there is no family member or other person who can provide this type of assistance.

The range of services delivered by State Trustees through the community service obligation agreement includes personal administration, attorneyships, trusts and estate management, and VCAT examinations.

In 2011–12 State Trustees provided services to 14,019 clients. This represents a decrease of 902 clients or 6.0 per cent from the previous year.


In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided State Trustees with $16,154,882 in funding. This represents a decrease of $2,007,205 or 11.1 per cent. The main reason for the funding decrease relates to a change in the way the department records this funding — the 2010–11 figure includes 13 months funding rather than the usual 12 months. The Department’s funding to State Trustees also varies by the number of clients assisted.

More information about these services is available at State Trustees Limited’s website: www.statetrustees.com.au.

Utility Relief Grants Scheme — electricityTable 32: Utility Relief Grant Scheme – Electricity summary

Output (grants) Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

13,707 12,532 $5,235,339 $5,467,199

The Utility Relief Grants Scheme assists concession cardholders who are unable to pay their mains electricity bill due to a temporary financial crisis. The amount of the grant is based on the balance owing at the time of application and is capped at six months worth of usage, up to a maximum of $500.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided Utility Relief Grants Scheme — Electricity grants to 12,532 households. This represents a decrease of 1,175 grants or 8.6 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $5,467,199 on Utility Relief Grants Scheme — Electricity grants. This represents an increase of $231,860 or 4.4 per cent from the previous year.

The average grant (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of grants) was $436. This represents an increase of $54 per grant or 14.2 per cent from the previous year.

More information about this concession is available at the following Department of Human Services web page: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/hardship/utility-relief-and-non-mains-utility-grant-scheme.

Utility Relief Grants Scheme — gasTable 33: Utility Relief Grant Scheme – Gas summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

7,923 7,035 $2,649,044 $2,807,727

The Utility Relief Grants Scheme assists concession cardholders who are unable to pay their mains gas bill due to a temporary financial crisis. The amount of the grant is based on the balance owing at the time of application and is capped at six months worth of usage, up to a maximum of $500.

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In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided Utility Relief Grants Scheme — Gas grants to 7,035 households. This represents a decrease of 888 grants or 11.2 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $2,807,727 on Utility Relief Grants Scheme – Gas grants. This represents an increase of $158,683 or 6.0 per cent from the previous year.



Utility Relief Grants Scheme — waterTable 34: Utility Relief Grant Scheme — Water summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

2,894 3,769 $1,079,411 $1,444,854

The Utility Relief Grants Scheme assists concession cardholders who are unable to pay their mains water bill due to a temporary financial crisis. The amount of the grant is based on the balance owing at the time of application and is capped at six months worth of usage, up to a maximum of $500.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided Utility Relief Grants Scheme — Water grants to 3,769 households. This represents an increase of 875 grants or 30.2 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $1,444,854 on Utility Relief Grants Scheme — Water grants. This represents an increase of $365,443 or 33.9 per cent from the previous year.




Utility Relief Grants Scheme — non-mainsTable 35: Utility Relief Grant Scheme — Non-Mains summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

96 160 $30,997 $47,009

The Non-Mains Utility Relief Grant is for concession cardholders who are unable to pay their non-mains electricity, gas or water bills due to a temporary financial crisis. This can include: LPG, diesel and petrol (for a generator), heating oil and carted water. The amount of the grant is based on the balance owing at the time of application and is capped at six months worth of usage, up to a maximum of $500. Grant assistance may also be provided to those who do not have an existing non-mains electricity, LP gas or carted water debt, but who are unable to afford their next supply load.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided Non-Mains Utility Relief Grants to 160 households. This represents an increase of 64 grants or 66.7 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $47,009 on Non-Mains Utility Relief Grants. This represents an increase of $16,012 or 51.7 per cent from the previous year.

The average grant (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of grants) was $294. This represents a decrease of $29 per grant or 9.0 per cent from the previous year.


Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS)Table 36: VCOSS summary

Expenditure

2010–11 2011–12

$966,686 $880,090

The Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) is the peak body for the social and community services sector in Victoria. VCOSS raises awareness of the existence, causes and effects of poverty and inequality and advocates for the development of a sustainable, fair and equitable society. As well as promoting the wellbeing of those experiencing disadvantage and contributing to the initiatives seeking to create a more just society, VCOSS provides a strong, non-partisan voice for the community sector.

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The VCOSS Strategic Plan 2011–2014 identifies five objectives:

•Advocate for social justice

•Build a strong community sector

•Strengthen our public presence

•Collaborate for greater impact

•Sustain a healthy organisation

Particular areas of policy interest include children and families, young people and education, climate change, disability, emergency relief, housing, human rights, indigenous Victorians, transport and utilities.

The Department of Human Services provides core funding to VCOSS to assist the organisation in achieving these objectives. Targeted project funding is also provided.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided VCOSS with $880,090 in funding. This represents a decrease of $86,596 or 9.0 per cent from the previous year.

Funding was provided for the following special projects:

•$164 577 distributed to agencies providing emergency assistance to asylum seekers.

•$85 102 for the Human Services Partnership Implementation Committee (HSPIC) project officer.

•$20 000 for HSPIC projects.

•$63 947 to support emergency recovery processes.

•$45 969 to support various workforce policy projects.

•$50 000 to support continuation of the VCOSS Clearinghouse until 30 June 2012.

•$35 000 to engage sector in the CSO Workforce Knowledgebase Project.

More information about VCOSS is available at its website: vcoss.org.au.


Water and Sewerage Connection SchemeTable 37: Water and Sewerage Connection Grants summary


2010–11 2011–12 2010–11 2011–12

61 47 $269,867 $277,622

The Water and Sewerage Connection Scheme assists concession cardholders who are required to connect to a mains water and sewerage service under the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program. Applicants must be home owners and have no savings to cover the cost of connection. The grant covers the full cost of connection.

In 2011–12 the Department of Human Services provided the Sewerage Connection Scheme grant to 47 households. This represents a decrease of 14 grants or 23.0 per cent from the previous year.

In 2011–12 the department spent $277,622 on Sewerage Connection Scheme grants. This represents an increase of $7,755 or 2.9 per cent from the previous year.

The average grant (i.e. expenditure divided by the number of grants) was $5,907. This represents an increase of $1,483 per grants or 33.5 per cent from the previous year.

State concessions and hardship program 2011-124 State concessions and hardship programs: 2011–12...

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