Monday 12th August 2013
Greens WA spokesperson on climate change and energy policy, Robin Chapple MLC, has delivered another broadside to the Barnett government as public fury over the budget’s savage cuts to the renewable energy sector continues to mount.
“While the feed-in reversal is welcome, let’s not lose focus on community anger at the government’s lamentable energy policy failures.
“The blinkered focus on fossil fuel power generation has made WA hostage to the rapid increases in fuel costs, particularly the Gorgon gas price hikes which are just about to hit WA electricity users with massive increases.
“Year after year, we have watched in dismay as the old-style electricity industry, at the black end of town, has been subsidized to keep its greenhouse gas intensive systems running. These outdated clunkers are costing us a fortune – just look at Muja – while new sustainable systems, which are cheaper to run, are ignored.
“Today’s pathetic solar feed-in backflip by the Barnett Government has at least rectified its disgusting betrayal of WA householders, who have done the right thing by installing solar panels, as an investment in sustainability for future generations.
“The WA Greens successfully amended the feed-in tariff legislation back in 2008 to ensure that households were fairly rewarded for the energy they produced, but it’s just not feasible for the solar industry to continue to grow with a complete lack of certainty from government policy.
“Thousands of jobs are in the pipeline for WA’s renewable energy sector over coming decades, but not if government policy keeps kneecapping the industry. The Greens Energy 2029 plan shows how WA can quickly and easily move to a sustainable energy future.
“West Australians are clearly supportive – with record installations of roof-top solar panels. This government is depressingly out of touch with the community’s wishes,” Mr Chapple concluded.
Energy 2029 plan: http://www.greenswa.net.au/energy2029
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 9965
