Latest news with #SouthAustralians
Time Business News
2 hours ago
- Business
- Time Business News
How South Australians Are Saving Money with the New Home Battery Discount Scheme
A new home battery discount scheme is giving South Australian households a great chance to cut their energy bills. Now, solar battery storage is more affordable, so families can keep their solar energy and use it when necessary. Many homes in South Australia have solar panels installed on their roofs which produce electricity while the sun is shining during the day. But what happens when the sun is no longer shining? Most of the extra energy is given back to the grid which means homes still need to purchase electricity in the evening. The extra energy is put into your home battery and can be used when you need it. Homes can still use their solar energy when the sun is not shining or at night. It saves money on electricity and uses the sun's free energy. Home batteries are helpful, but they can also be expensive. That's where the new cheaper home batteries program comes in. This program gives eligible households a discount when they install a home battery. The goal is to help more people enjoy the benefits of clean, stored energy without paying full price. This plan will help many South Australians save a lot of money on buying a battery. Families who get government benefits or have a low income may be eligible for additional discounts. Energy experts say that this could save you hundreds of dollars on your electricity bills every year. The savings you get from the battery over time will eventually cover its cost. People living in South Australia with solar panels can apply for the program. If you do not have solar panels now, you could still be eligible if you intend to add them with the battery. Renters may join if their landlord allows them and homeowners are always welcome. It is easy to apply for the program. Households can get help from approved installers who guide them through the steps and show them how much they could save. The cheaper home batteries program is designed to be easy and helpful, especially for those who want to reduce their energy bills and improve their home's energy use. This battery discount scheme is about saving money and helping the environment. By using more clean energy from the sun and less power from fossil fuels, homes can reduce their carbon footprint. This is better for the planet and supports South Australia's goal of being a leader in renewable energy. The cheaper home batteries program also helps during peak demand times. When many people use power at once, it puts pressure on the grid. But if more homes store their power, it takes some of that pressure off and keeps the system running smoothly. The cheaper home batteries program is a win-win for South Australians. It helps families cut costs, makes the most of solar power, and supports a cleaner future. With financial help now available, there's never been a better time to consider adding a battery to your home. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Young Australians throwing away illegal vapes as prices soar
Vaping rates are falling among young adults and high schoolers, prompting Health Minister Mark Butler to claim Australia's world-first vape ban is working. Prices for the fruity-flavoured puffers illegally sold at tobacco and corner stores have risen from about $25 to between $50 and $60 since the middle of last year when Labor introduced one of the strictest public health measures of its term by banning vapes – they are now only legally purchased as anti-smoking aids at pharmacies – and clamping down on importation. Officials have since seized 8 million illegal vapes at the border, mostly manufactured in China and sold under popular brand names Alibarbar and iGet. While they can still be bought, the higher prices and reduced supply has combined with school-level warnings to bring down smoking rates. The rate of vaping has halved to 18 per cent among 18-24-year-olds from early 2023 to now, according to new data from the Cancer Council's Generation Vape report, the most comprehensive survey on vaping in Australia. Among 14-17-year-olds, the rate of vaping was rapidly rising in recent years but started to drop in the last quarter of last year, falling from 17 per cent to 15.5 per cent. The respondents are asked of their experiences in a mix of surveys and long-form interviews funded by the council and government agencies. Loading That drop-off among teens is backed by data from health authorities in South Australia, which showed vaping rates in the 30-to-59 age group had dropped by about half from 2023 to this year, and by about one-third for South Australians aged between 15 and 29. The number of schoolkids in SA being suspended for vaping declined by 50 per cent from the first term of 2023 when there were 388 suspensions compared to 186 in term four last year. 'The vaping legislation has really changed the game,' said Alecia Brooks of the Cancer Council.
The Age
3 days ago
- Health
- The Age
Young Australians throwing away illegal vapes as prices soar
Vaping rates are falling among young adults and high schoolers, prompting Health Minister Mark Butler to claim Australia's world-first vape ban is working. Prices for the fruity-flavoured puffers illegally sold at tobacco and corner stores have risen from about $25 to between $50 and $60 since the middle of last year when Labor introduced one of the strictest public health measures of its term by banning vapes – they are now only legally purchased as anti-smoking aids at pharmacies – and clamping down on importation. Officials have since seized 8 million illegal vapes at the border, mostly manufactured in China and sold under popular brand names Alibarbar and iGet. While they can still be bought, the higher prices and reduced supply has combined with school-level warnings to bring down smoking rates. The rate of vaping has halved to 18 per cent among 18-24-year-olds from early 2023 to now, according to new data from the Cancer Council's Generation Vape report, the most comprehensive survey on vaping in Australia. Among 14-17-year-olds, the rate of vaping was rapidly rising in recent years but started to drop in the last quarter of last year, falling from 17 per cent to 15.5 per cent. The respondents are asked of their experiences in a mix of surveys and long-form interviews funded by the council and government agencies. Loading That drop-off among teens is backed by data from health authorities in South Australia, which showed vaping rates in the 30-to-59 age group had dropped by about half from 2023 to this year, and by about one-third for South Australians aged between 15 and 29. The number of schoolkids in SA being suspended for vaping declined by 50 per cent from the first term of 2023 when there were 388 suspensions compared to 186 in term four last year. 'The vaping legislation has really changed the game,' said Alecia Brooks of the Cancer Council.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
‘Smoke-free': Big call on major tourist strip
A major thoroughfare running through one of South Australia's star beach suburbs could soon be a smoke-free zone. Port Adelaide and Enfield councillors voted unanimously this month for a report into making the western section Semaphore Rd, which connects Semaphore Beach and its famous jetty with a line of shops and restaurants, free of cigarettes and vapes. Semaphore councillor David Wilkins proposed the motion and told NewsWire this week a Semaphore local had asked the council to consider the ban. 'We actually had a local resident reach out to our mayor, who raised the concept of it,' he said. 'The resident is particularly passionate about it because she lost her father in 2020 to sinus cancer, which they have shared with us, was likely caused by passive smoking. 'As a result of that, she's asked whether we can put in smoke free areas, so we're protecting people in the community.' Semaphore lies in Adelaide's western district, bordering Port Adelaide to the east and West Lakes to the South. It's a popular tourist spot, with the foreshore clock tower, jetty and steam train rides that run from the beach to Fort Glanville and back all drawing in families from the city and interstate. Semaphore is a popular beachside suburb in Adelaide's west. Duncan Evans / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia The proposed smoke-free zone would cover the western section of Semaphore Rd. Google Maps Credit: News Corp Australia The retro Odean Star cinema also sits on Semaphore Rd alongside eateries like Zambrero and Yo-Chi. Mr Wilkins said a smoke ban would elevate the strip's attractiveness even further. 'We've got the beach, the cinema, it's very much a place we want to encourage people to come and visit,' he said. 'This proposal would really help create a welcoming environment to come and visit and support our local traders.' Staffers will now prepare a report and interview businesses on the thoroughfare to gauge their position, including the pubs that serve the strip. 'I think it will likely be supported because it's about encouraging people to come and visit,' Mr Wilkins said. Staff will also investigate whether the council has the legal authority to implement the proposed ban. Cancer Council SA senior manager for prevention Christine Morris praised the idea. Semaphore Rd hosts a range of popular eateries. Duncan Evans / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'It's fantastic to hear that local councils are taking a proactive approach to keeping South Australians safe from the harmful effects of smoking, by making more public spaces smoke-free,' she told NewsWire. 'South Australia is leading the nation in providing smoke-free spaces since new laws were introduced last year and we welcome continued action to protect community members from exposure to second-hand smoking, especially vulnerable people and children.' Semaphore already has some smoke-free zones. In 2021, Mr Wilkins organised a ban on smoking outside public buildings such as libraries and community centres. 'It just makes it such a more welcoming and inviting environment,' he said. The City of Port Adelaide Enfield council areas covers a vast portion of Adelaide's north, stretching from Klemzig in the east to Semaphore in the west and the Osborne naval shipyard in the north.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
City of Port Adelaide Enfield council adopts motion to consider smoke ban on Semaphore Rd
A major thoroughfare running through one of South Australia's star beach suburbs could soon be a smoke-free zone. Port Adelaide and Enfield councillors voted unanimously this month for a report into making the western section Semaphore Rd, which connects Semaphore Beach and its famous jetty with a line of shops and restaurants, free of cigarettes and vapes. Semaphore councillor David Wilkins proposed the motion and told NewsWire this week a Semaphore local had asked the council to consider the ban. 'We actually had a local resident reach out to our mayor, who raised the concept of it,' he said. 'The resident is particularly passionate about it because she lost her father in 2020 to sinus cancer, which they have shared with us, was likely caused by passive smoking. 'As a result of that, she's asked whether we can put in smoke free areas, so we're protecting people in the community.' Semaphore lies in Adelaide's western district, bordering Port Adelaide to the east and West Lakes to the South. It's a popular tourist spot, with the foreshore clock tower, jetty and steam train rides that run from the beach to Fort Glanville and back all drawing in families from the city and interstate. The retro Odean Star cinema also sits on Semaphore Rd alongside eateries like Zambrero and Yo-Chi. Mr Wilkins said a smoke ban would elevate the strip's attractiveness even further. 'We've got the beach, the cinema, it's very much a place we want to encourage people to come and visit,' he said. 'This proposal would really help create a welcoming environment to come and visit and support our local traders.' Staffers will now prepare a report and interview businesses on the thoroughfare to gauge their position, including the pubs that serve the strip. 'I think it will likely be supported because it's about encouraging people to come and visit,' Mr Wilkins said. Staff will also investigate whether the council has the legal authority to implement the proposed ban. Cancer Council SA senior manager for prevention Christine Morris praised the idea. 'It's fantastic to hear that local councils are taking a proactive approach to keeping South Australians safe from the harmful effects of smoking, by making more public spaces smoke-free,' she told NewsWire. 'South Australia is leading the nation in providing smoke-free spaces since new laws were introduced last year and we welcome continued action to protect community members from exposure to second-hand smoking, especially vulnerable people and children.' Semaphore already has some smoke-free zones. In 2021, Mr Wilkins organised a ban on smoking outside public buildings such as libraries and community centres. 'It just makes it such a more welcoming and inviting environment,' he said. The City of Port Adelaide Enfield council areas covers a vast portion of Adelaide's north, stretching from Klemzig in the east to Semaphore in the west and the Osborne naval shipyard in the north.
