Thousands of households across New South Wales will have another opportunity to cut their household bills, with the Minns Labor Government bringing back its popular Washing Machine Exchange Program for a third round.
A further 6,000 discounted washing machines are now available to eligible households, allowing pensioners, veterans, social housing tenants and low-income households to replace an old top-loader with a new 8kg water and energy-efficient front-loading washing machine for just $250.
The program is designed to provide immediate cost-of-living relief while also reducing household water and energy consumption. According to the NSW Government, participating households can save an average of $300 a year through lower water, electricity and detergent use.
The switch is also expected to save approximately 20,000 litres of water per household every year. The Government says that amount is roughly equivalent to the capacity of a typical backyard swimming pool, highlighting the broader environmental benefit of replacing older, less-efficient appliances.
Eligible concession card holders will receive more than just the discounted appliance. The subsidised package includes delivery anywhere in NSW, installation, a two-year warranty and removal of the old washing machine for recycling, with the services facilitated by The Good Guys Commercial.
The latest expansion follows strong demand for previous rounds of the initiative. The NSW Government said all available machines in each of the previous two rounds were taken up within a week, prompting the decision to reopen the program and make another 6,000 machines available.
Since the $11 million Washing Machine Exchange Program began, almost 12,000 households have already upgraded their washing machines. Collectively, the participating homes are estimated to have saved around 233 million litres of water, equivalent to approximately 93 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The initiative forms part of the NSW Government’s broader NSW Water Efficiency Program, which aims to reduce water waste, strengthen the state’s long-term water security and help households reduce their ongoing expenses through more efficient appliances.
NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson said the strong response to the program demonstrated the demand for practical cost-of-living assistance. She encouraged eligible households to take advantage of the new round, particularly given the limited number of discounted machines available.
Minister for Veterans David Harris highlighted the benefit for veterans, saying the initiative was another way the NSW Government was attempting to reduce cost-of-living pressures. He encouraged eligible veterans to consider applying for a discounted washing machine that could help lower household electricity and other running costs.
Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison also urged eligible older residents to apply quickly, noting the popularity of previous rounds. She said the longer-term energy savings from a more efficient appliance could help seniors reduce household expenses over time, alongside other measures such as Seniors Card discounts and the $2.50 daily public transport travel cap.
The environmental benefits are another major part of the program. Ashraf El-Sherbini, Executive Director of Operations Resilience in the Water Group at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, said modern front-loading washing machines generally use significantly less water than older top-loaders.
El-Sherbini said the cumulative impact of thousands of households making the switch could translate into millions of litres of water saved across NSW, contributing to the state’s longer-term water security.
Biag Capasso, Managing Director of The Good Guys, said the company was proud to partner with the NSW Government on a program aimed at delivering practical savings through more efficient household appliances. The partnership means households receiving the subsidised machines can have the appliance delivered and installed, while their old machine is removed and recycled.
For eligible NSW households, the return of the program provides an opportunity to replace an ageing appliance without paying the full retail cost of a new energy- and water-efficient machine. With previous allocations being taken up within days, eligible residents are encouraged to check their eligibility and apply as soon as possible.
The NSW Government has provided an online eligibility and application service for the Washing Machine Exchange Program through its Water Efficiency Program. The initiative is expected to continue supporting households facing cost-of-living pressures while delivering additional water and energy savings across the state.
