Allegra Spender

I'm keen to hear from you so that I can understand the issues you care about. My Constituent Liaison Team includes ten highly committed volunteers including lawyers, teachers, journalists, social service professionals, market researchers, financial advisers, and policy advocates. This team is such an incredible asset to Wentworth.

Listening to and Representing You

Our goal is to respond meaningfully and promptly to every enquiry we receive from Wentworth constituents.

This team will provide detailed responses to your queries and arrange face-to-face or online meetings with me. The Team reports to me regularly about what local people are contacting me about and what local issues are arising. This helps to inform my policy positions and both local and national advocacy. This is doing politics differently.

Resources

Government services
- If you're a Wentworth resident we can assist you with Federal Government issues such as Immigration, Social Services, Centrelink, the NBN or Tax. If you would like Allegra to take up your case with the relevant department or Minister, please contact us.
Community networking
- We are gathering resources, links and information for Wentworth residents on the issues that concern you.

This page provides guidance on matters where we may be able to assist you, with links to key government, emergency, family and personal support services as well as information for the Wentworth community on interest topics such as incentives and rebates available for household electrification.

We welcome your questions and your feedback - please email the team at [email protected]

Household Electrification

The Household Electrification Opportunity

Electrifying our households and powering them with rooftop solar is a huge opportunity to permanently cut our power bills and our emissions. By switching out expensive gas appliances at the end of their natural life, replacing them with electrical alternatives, and installing rooftop solar, the average Australian household could save nearly $3,500 ever year. This is because modern electrical appliances are much more efficient than their gas counterparts, and Australian rooftop solar is the cheapest home energy
anywhere in the world. It’s a climate and a cost of living imperative.

Wentworth’s first Climate Summit showed there is huge desire in our community to accelerate action on electrification, so this is one of my top priorities. At the federal level, I’ve been advocating for significant funding in May’s budget, as well as lobbying the government to provide tailored support for people renting and living in apartments.

I’m particularly interested to see what we can achieve together in Wentworth. That’s why I’m engaging with Councils, businesses, homeowners, landlords and strata managers to support new and existing electrification initiatives. These include accelerating rooftop solar uptake on our schools and our community organisations, installing more EV chargers, and getting a
community battery in Bondi.

How You Can Save Money Electrifying Your Home

There are already a range of government programmes that can support households with some of the costs of electrifying their homes and installing solar. People often tell me they’re confused about the different options that are available, so below I’ve summarised some of the federal, state, and local government incentives that Wentworth households may be able to access.

Federal Government Incentives

Electric car discount
- Following legislation I supported last year, certain zero or low-emissions vehicles are now exempt from paying fringe benefits tax. Find out more via the Australian Taxation Office Fact Sheet.
Small-scale renewable energy scheme
- Households and small businesses that install a small-scale renewable energy system, or a hot water system, may be able to receive support to help with the purchase cost. This is obtained through creating small-scale technology certificates. Check your eligibility and apply via the Clean Energy Regulator website.

NSW Government Incentives

Incentives

A range of incentives are available to help people in NSW upgrade existing appliances and energy equipment to more efficient models. Switching to more efficient appliances helps reduce your energy use and can save you money on power bills in the long-term. You can access specific support to:

Rebate swap for solar and energy-efficient upgrades

NSW residents who are currently receiving a Low-Income Household Rebate are eligible to swap this rebate for a free solar system or energy efficient upgrades under several different programmes. Check your availability via the NSW government website.

Electric vehicle rebate and stamp duty refund

Rebates of $3,000 are being offered for the first 25,000 new battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles valued at less than $68,750. There is also no stamp duty payable on eligible new and used EV purchases that cost up to $78,000. If you’ve already paid stamp duty on your EV, you may also be entitled to a refund.

Local Government Incentives

Randwick Council

Randwick Council provides a range of sustainability rebates. Properties in Randwick can receive up to $5,000 in rebates for purchasing items including rooftop solar, household battery, an EV charger, and several other eligible items. You can find out more via the Community Sustainable Guidelines.

Woollahra Council

Woollahra Council provides a range of helpful information, including how to switch to an ‘all electric’ home, save power, and make apartment buildings more sustainable.

Waverley Council

Waverley Council also provides details on how to save energy at home, go solar in Waverley, and benefit from electrification.

Our fantastic councils have also combined on a free initiative to help clubs and community organisations save on energy bills with solar power, by providing support from start to finish. You can learn more here. You can also find details about events in your area by looking at your local council website, or learning more here.

Aged Care Assistance

My Aged Care is the starting point to access government-funded aged care services.

Services include help at home, short term and respite care, and aged care home enquiries.

You can also call 1800 200 422 to speak to a dedicated aged care specialist.

Congratulatory Messages

We are happy to provide congratulatory messages from Allegra on request to help you celebrate special achievements or milestones. This includes birthday greetings and wedding anniversaries.

We can also arrange for congratulatory messages from:

The Prime Minister: on 50th wedding anniversaries (and every year after) and on 90th birthdays (and every year after).

The Governor-General: on 50th wedding anniversaries (and every year after) and on 100th birthdays (and every year after).

The King: on 60th wedding anniversaries (and every fifth year after) and on 100th birthdays (and every fifth year after).

Requests can be made by emailing the office at [email protected]. Please send through your requests at least two months before the celebration. We are also happy to provide retrospective congratulatory messages.

We ask that you please send the full name(s), address and email of the person you are requesting the letter for, along with the nature of the occasion you are celebrating.

Please provide birth and marriage certificates, statutory declaration or evidence of celebration if these are not available.

If you need help, please email us or call (02) 9327 3988.

Disability Assistance

If you’re having trouble with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) please call their helpline on 1800 800 110.

To make provide feedback or a complaint please use the below links:

NDIS feedback and complaints

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

If you have a Centrelink related enquiry, please visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au

Alternatively, we have local Centrelink Service Centres in Bondi Junction (Bondi Junction Service Centre - Find Us - Services Australia) and Darlinghurst (Darlinghurst Service Centre - Find Us - Services Australia)

In all communication with Centrelink, please ensure you provide the following details:

Full Name
Address
Contact Number
Centrelink Reference Number (CRN)

If you are unable to obtain the assistance you need, please email us at [email protected] with brief details of your concern, and we will be in touch.

Immigration Assistance

If you need help with immigration, passports, citizenship, visas or travel documents you can call Immigration on 131 881.

The Department of Home Affairs can assist in matters such as Immigration, Citizenship and Visas.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade deals with the issuing of passports.

If you are unable to locate the assistance you need, or if you are experiencing significant Visa processing or passport delays please contact us, [email protected]. As your Federal Member, Allegra can communicate with the Department of Home Affairs and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on your behalf.

What information do you need to provide us with?

Full Name of Applicant
Visa/Passport type
Reference Number (If Applicable)
Date of Birth
Country of Birth
Purpose of trip
Proposed travel dates

If you are overseas and in need of assistance, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) are best placed to assist you. You can contact them on their 24 hour emergency support number +61 2 6261 3305

Humanitarian Visa Sponsorship

Allegra is committed to supporting skilled migration and seeking safe passage to Australia for refugees.

If you require assistance in supporting or sponsoring asylum seekers, please reach out to the office and one of our team members will assist.

Passports

Your Federal Member can act as a bridge to communicate with the Department of Home Affairs and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Department of Home Affairs can assist in matters such as Immigration and Visas, whilst the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade deal with the issuing of passports.

We understand that COVID-19 has greatly impacted processing times of both Visas and passports, which can cause significant stress to you and your family.

If you are experiencing issues with Visa processing or passport delays, you can email the office with the details as listed below, and one of our team members will be able to assist you.

Email us at [email protected]

What information do you need to provide us with?

Full Name of Applicant
Visa/Passport type
Reference Number (If Applicable)
Date of Birth
Country of Birth
Purpose of trip
Proposed travel dates

If you are overseas and in need of assistance, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) are best placed to assist you. You can contact them on their 24 hour emergency support number

+61 2 6261 3305

Humanitarian Visa Sponsorship

Allegra is committed to supporting skilled migration and seeking safe passage to Australia for refugees.

If you require assistance in supporting or sponsoring asylum seekers, please reach out to the office and one of our team members will assist.

Email us at [email protected]

Legal Matters

Unfortunately neither Allegra nor the Office team can advise on legal matters or disputes. However, we can assist you in identifying whether your matter requires legal advice and direct you towards relevant resources including pro bono legal aid centres.