The Hon Josh Wilson MP, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Sam O'Connor MP, Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works
More than 24,000 social homes across Queensland are set to receive ceiling fans to deliver cool relief from the summer heat.
The initiative is part of $98 million program designed to improve living conditions and reduce energy costs for social housing tenants.
A range of energy performance improvements will also be carried out in up to 32,000 social homes under the four-year program, including the installation of ceiling insulation, energy efficient hot water systems, solar photovoltaic systems and cooling systems in some of the hottest areas of Queensland.
The Program is being supported through a broader $116 million joint partnership under the Australian Government's Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative.
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson MP said the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative is making a real difference right now by lowering energy costs and making homes more liveable.
"The Albanese Government is determined to help Queensland deliver energy efficiency and liveability upgrades to the state's social housing stock to improve the wellbeing of tenants.
"People doing it tough shouldn't have to struggle in housing that is oppressively hot or cold and nor should they have to cut essentials to afford the energy it takes to provide a liveable and healthy temperature at home.
"That's why the Albanese Government's cost of living measures included immediate energy price relief, and it's why we're delivering the expanded $800 million Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative in partnership with the states and territories to upgrade dwellings over the next four years."
Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O'Connor said the upgrades are part of a broader initiative to deliver ceiling fans in bedrooms and living areas for each of Queensland's 63,000 government-owned social homes.
"Queensland summers can be unforgiving, and heatwaves can have serious impacts on the health and well-being of vulnerable Queenslanders, particularly the elderly, babies and young children, and those with medical conditions,'' Minister O'Connor said.
"Many of our tenants in social housing across Queensland fall into these categories, so this long overdue improvement to their standards of living will make a huge difference.
"We care about the health and well-being of our tenants, which is why we are committed to ensuring our social housing properties are as comfortable as possible and environmentally, socially and economically sustainable."
