Ruth Webber (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell. Is the minister aware that the Photovoltaic Rebate Program has been responsible for helping families in thousands of homes across Australia to install solar panels? Hasn’t this program assisted families to take action on climate change by investing in clean energy? Can the minister confirm that Channel 7’s Sunrise program is right when it says:

Our federal government has already slashed solar electricity rebates and is planning to phase them out completely by the middle of next year.

Why has the minister decided to phase out these programs? Why is the minister afraid to help Australian families to invest in solar energy by continuing the solar electricity rebate program?