Policy Launch: Winter Warmer and WOF

• Subsidise the power bills of over-65s by $50 per month for the three coldest months of the year – June, July and August – so our seniors can afford to keep warm
• A free ‘Warrant of Fitness’ annual health check for those over-65 to identify health problems and illness early

The Numbers:

$243 million – the extra cost of hospitalisations in winter

3,000 – average rise in hospital admissions each winter month

1,600 – the average rise in deaths nationally each winter

18% – the increase in winter mortality rates over non-winter rates

$880 – the cost of treating one patient for one day in hospital

$150 – the amount of a senior citizen’s monthly power bill at which the subsidy would apply each June, July and August
$50 – the amount of subsidy proposed for the power bills of over-65s
$57 million – the cost if there were 100 percent uptake of the subsidy

$25 – estimated cost for each over-65 for once a year ‘WOF’ check-up

$14.5 million – cost of the free annual WOF if every senior took it up

ENDS