In this year’s budget, the Government committed $3.5 billion to energy bill relief for all Australians. Many people are struggling, so for a lot of people this relief will be welcome. 

But others on a higher income feel that they simply don’t need it and would like to see it go to those in need.

The $300 energy bill relief payment will be applied directly to energy bills as a quarterly rebate.

A number of people have written into my office asking for suggestions about what they can do in terms of donating an equivalent amount to this payment.

Some Canberrans have already spoken about donating to local charities like Hands Across Canberra or The Early Morning Centre.

Food pantries received no additional funding in the budget. Neither did frontline family and domestic violence services. This is despite 35 women having been murdered this year. They are operating on a shoestring in a national emergency. 

Similarly, women’s legal services around the country are having to wind back their services due to a lack of funds. 

I’ve created this fundraiser as another option for any Canberrans who feel they don’t need their energy rebate and want to redirect it to our local organisations on the frontline of this emergency.

All proceeds will go to the ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service, the ACT Women’s Legal Centre and Yerrabi Yurwang Child & Family Aboriginal Corporation.

If our Government won’t support these services, let’s do it for them.