Federal Member for Maribyrnong and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten has said that Labor will protect the Small Scale Renewable Energy Target Scheme.

More than 4,000 homes in the electorate of Maribyrnong have already gone solar and Labor wants to see that number grow.

“Solar power not only provides clean energy, it reduces power bills and creates jobs.  Creating jobs in manufacturing and servicing, while protecting the environment, is obviously a smart way to go.”

The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme creates a financial incentive for owners to install eligible small-scale installations such as solar water heaters and solar panel systems

“More and more members of our community are looking to solar power their homes and to feed power into the grid,” said Bill Shorten.

“Unfortunately, the Abbott Government’s dishonesty and incompetence has almost destroyed Australia’s renewable energy industry, putting new jobs and investment at risk.”

“Installing solar should be encouraged not discouraged. Households in Moonee ponds, in St Albans, in Braybrook and surrounding areas have helped to create local jobs, cut carbon pollution and ease their cost of living.”

“Everyone knows Tony Abbott and his team are only climate change deniers. But their disregard and contempt for the renewable energy is doing huge damage. People are losing their jobs.”

More than 2000 clean energy jobs around Australia have been lost since 2011-12 because of the Liberal Government’s broken promise on the Renewable Energy Target.

 

Employment in renewables has slipped 15 per cent since it reached a peak of almost 15,000 full-time workers under Labor when it increased by 44 per cent.

 

The Clean Energy Council has recommended Australia move to a Renewable Energy Target of 33,500 to protect our clean energy future.

Labor has backed the Clean Energy Council and is calling on the Liberal Government to do the same, to protect jobs and investment in this crucial industry.