RENEWABLE ENERGY AGREEMENT A VICTORY FOR COMMON SENSE

20-August-2009

Today’s compromise by the Government to accept Coalition amendments on a 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target (RET) for Australia by 2020 is a victory, not only for common sense but also for the environment.

Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Member for Indi hopes that the Government will now adopt the same common sense approach in negotiating for its proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS).

The Government’s slashing of the solar panel rebate and delay in bringing this legislation to Parliament has hurt the growth of renewable energy businesses in Indi. Now let’s hope that the expanded Renewable Energy Targets will see a dramatic increase in local use of renewable energy.

Mrs Mirabella welcomed the Government’s belated recognition of the Coalition’s key concerns, which included:

·         A full decoupling of the Renewable Energy Target from the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme.

·         Appropriate protection for key energy-intensive trade-exposed industries such as aluminium.

·         Protection of existing investment and jobs in the coal mine waste methane power generation industry.

·         Scope for industries which may be affected by the Renewable Energy Targets, such as food processing, to refer their treatment to the Productivity Commission.

·         A tightening of regulations relating to Renewable Energy Targets eligibility for heat pumps.

“The Coalition has worked hard to ensure that these amendments were passed,” Mrs Mirabella said, “I am particularly pleased that local primary producers will be afforded protection under the Coalition’s amendments.”

Today’s outcome provides certainty to the local renewable energy industry and gives the green light to further investment in this sector.

“This is a great result for our local renewable energy providers who have been facing uncertain times since the Government axed the solar rebate schemes,” Mrs Mirabella said.

The Renewable Energy Targets outcome demonstrates the economically and environmentally beneficial outcomes which can result from good faith negotiations between the Government and Coalition.

“I join my colleagues in pushing for amendments on the Government’s disastrous Emissions Trading Scheme. We hope the Government will stop playing politics with the environment and adopt a similar approach to negotiation of this legislation,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.