The Gillard Government today outlined an easy way for Australian households to understand the assistance provided for the cost of living impacts of the carbon price.
The online household assistance estimator is a guide to help families understand the impact a carbon price is expected to have on their budgets, as well as the assistance being provided.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard today visited a family at Emu Plains in western Sydney where they viewed the online assistance estimator and discussed the Government's planned assistance that will be provided through a price on carbon.
It is important that Australians have access to direct information about what a carbon price means for them.
All a householder will need to do is visit the Clean Energy Future website at www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au, answer a few simple questions and they will see an estimate of the amount of assistance a household like theirs is likely to receive.
The assistance estimator uses a set of typical household types to provide an indication of the assistance different households will receive from May or June next year.
It doesn't give an exact result given everyone's circumstances are unique, but it provides a good guide to help households understand what the carbon price will mean for them.
The assistance estimator is secure and will not retain any personal details.
More than half of the revenue raised through a carbon price will go to households in the form of tax cuts and increases in pensions, allowances and family payments.
This means Australians can do their bit for climate change and look after their household budgets.
Nine out of ten households will receive assistance through tax cuts and/or payment increases under the carbon price plan.
Almost 6 million households will get tax cuts or increases in payments that cover the entire average price impact.
More than 4 million Australian households will get an extra buffer with assistance that covers 120 per cent of the average price impact of the carbon price.
On average, the carbon price will cost households $9.90 per week but they get $10.10 per week in assistance.
This assistance is permanent and will increase. The Government will review the adequacy of assistance each year and will increase it further if necessary.
The Government's assistance package will help households deal with any cost of living impacts caused by the introduction of a carbon price as we move towards a clean energy future.
In the vast majority of cases, households will not need to apply for assistance as it will be automatically delivered to them through the personal income tax and Government payment systems.
Under the package, more than 1 million Australians will no longer need to lodge a tax return.
The household assistance estimator and other information is available at www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au