Coalition promises half-price flat-screen TVs and cheap fridges

Struggling families would get half-price flat-screen TVs and cheap fridges if they trade-in older power-zapping models, under a Coalition promise to slash household bills.

EXCLUSIVE: Struggling families would get half-price flat-screen TVs and cheap fridges if they trade-in old power-sapping models under a Coalition promise to slash household bills.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy will on Friday pledge generous discounts for low-income Victorian households in a bid to save them up to $325 a year on power.

The $40 million scheme would see prices slashed on six-star TVs by half, and on energy-efficient fridges by 40 per cent.

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Mr Guy told the Herald Sun the policy would benefit tens of thousands of families.

“Only a Liberal Nationals government will cut tax and ease the squeeze on cost-of-living pressures,” he said.

“This is a win-win policy. It’s going to cut the cost of living and it’s going to cut carbon emissions, which is great for the environment.”

The appliance-replacement offer will be available to Victoria’s 913,000 pensioner, health- care or concession card holders — but only for fridges at least six years old and for plasma or older cathode ray tube TVs.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says the policy will benefit tens of thousands of families doing it tough. Picture: Steve Tanner

A similar NSW scheme has helped 30,000 households, with the NSW government claiming that making the switch to energy-efficient TVs saves $50-125 a year while ­upgrading fridges saves $100-$200.

In NSW, a 100cm high-­definition LED LCD TV is discounted from $499 to $210. Fridges range from $286 for smaller models and $599 for a large 516-litre model — a discount of almost $550.

The Victorian taxpayer-funded scheme would be capped at $40 million, affecting up to 85,000 households.

Shadow treasurer Michael O’Brien said Premier Daniel Andrews had “lost control of cost-of-living pressures” and the scheme was part of a broader cost of living package.

“An elected Liberal Nationals government will provide free school books for secondary students at government schools, cut water bills by up to $100 a year and cut up to $530 a year on electricity bills for eligible Victorians,” he said.

Cost of living has been a key battleground this year, with both sides promising to reduce pressure on bills. Labor’s key policy is to install half-price solar panels on 650,000 homes, with subsidies worth up to $2225 each on top of energy bill savings.

On Thursday, Labor also promised free pads and tampons in state schools, and has also promised to slash the cost of kindergarten for parents.

The state election is on ­November 24. Ballots have already been cast by 325,000 voters.

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