Cost-of-living solutions welcomed, but millions of Australian families at risk in dangerously hot homes

Parents for Climate welcomes the announcement from NSW and Federal governments to provide matched funding for cost-saving upgrades to up to 24,000 social housing properties and to open up access to solar power to more than 30,000 households in total. However, Parents for Climate would like to see this support go further.

Millions of people live in houses that simply can’t handle rising heat, with low income families the most at risk and least likely to have adequate insulation and climate controls. Parents for Climate’s latest report, Hothouse Australia: Our kids at risk as heat soars, highlights that millions of children, including over 760,000 children living in poverty in Australia, face heightened risks to their health and education from exposure to extreme summer heat in homes, schools and childcare centres.

There are more than 400,000 social housing homes in Australia and they represent those most at risk from extreme heat impacts. Today’s announcement doesn’t go far enough. Parents for Climate calls on all governments to coordinate a national plan to lower energy costs and manage extreme heat in our communities.

Nic Seton, Parents For Climate CEO said, “This announcement represents significant progress towards protecting vulnerable households against the twin threats of rising heat and rising costs. But too many families, including over 760,000 children living in poverty in Australia, continue to face heightened risks to their health and education from exposure to extreme summer heat in homes.

“Social housing represents some of the least energy efficient homes in the country, and this announcement covers about 6% of them. Millions more live in homes that simply can’t handle rising heat, with low income families the most at risk and least likely to have adequate insulation and climate controls.

“This summer is only the beginning. Rising temperatures will have significant short- and long-term health effects on vulnerable groups, including children. We urgently need a national plan for managing extreme heat in our communities, including fair and affordable access to cooling in vulnerable homes.”