Some 90% of First Nations who responded to a recent Heat Survey say their homes get too hot and they're struggling to afford their energy bills.
First Nations are also twice as likely as others surveyed to seek heat-related medical attention.
Distributed by ACOSS Australian Council of Social Service in partnership with the First Nations Energy Network and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association (NATSIHA), the annual survey is tracking the intersection between heat, housing, energy costs, and people experiencing financial and social disadvantage.
The ACOSS final report states the situation facing First Nations people surveyed is worse on most indicators and must be prioritised for solutions.
Many First Nations households are living in rental or social housing that is poorly insulated, often very cold in winter and very hot in summer, and without access to energy-efficient heating or cooling, or solar or home batteries to reduce energy bills.
ACOSS is calling on the Federal, state and territory governments to fund energy upgrades for all 437,700 social housing properties by 2030, with First Nations housing energy upgrades prioritised.
This would positively impact over 63,000 First Nations people (ABS 2022).
"It’s a complete travesty that in one of the world’s wealthiest nations people are getting sick, skipping meals and delaying medical appointments because they can’t afford to cool and power their homes,” says ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie.
“We urgently need to help people improve the thermal performance of housing, electrify and access rooftop solar and home batteries, with the most help going to low-income and First Nations housing."
Read the Heat in Homes Survey Report here
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