Greens – Energy Efficiency Tax Break Missed Opportunity: Greens

Energy Efficiency Tax Break Missed Opportunity: Greens

Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Sunday 25th July 2010, 12:00am
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in Climate Change & the Zero Carbon World Energy Energy Efficiency
Once again the Government has missed the opportunity to lead Australia into a new era of energy efficient commercial buildings preferring instead a headline, the Australian Greens said today.

Exploiting the huge potential to improve energy efficiency, not just commercial buildings, but in the residential and industrial sectors as well, require market based policies that create significant, predictable, long-term incentives for investment, Christine Milne, Australian Greens Senator and Spokesperson for Climate Change and Energy said today in response to Minister Wong’s announcement on energy efficiency.

“Everyone in the energy efficiency industry was expecting the Government to announce a market based approach to drive long term change and they will now be sorely disappointed with an uncertain, short term fix.”

“Today’s announcement to provide 50% tax breaks for investment in commercial building energy efficiency, up to $180 million, will only scratch the surface of the full potential of reducing energy waste.”

“The main problem with the Government’s approach is its lack of ambition, its short term-ism and that it is paid for by the tax payer so subject to government whims.”

“By contrast, the Greens, Energy Efficient Non-Residential Buildings Scheme, would establish a world-leading scheme to upgrade the energy efficiency of Australia’s non-residential buildings such as offices, shopping centres, hotels and schools. It is far reaching and would drive systemic change and ongoing energy savings and reduced emissions.”

Developed from an idea from Lend Lease, WSP Lincolne Scott and Advanced Environmental, it would establish a cap and trade scheme for building energy efficiency, ensuring that all of Australia’s non-residential buildings are upgraded as swiftly and fairly as possible.

Senator Milne’s Private Senator’s Bill introduced into the Senate was referred to inquiry, where it received positive support from many international experts and organisations such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Energy Efficiency in Buildings Project; RAND Corporation, one of America’s oldest research institutes; and Dr David Vincent, Projects Director, Carbon Trust – an independent company set up by the UK Government to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy.

Senator Milne said, “Unlike our Energy Efficient Non-Residential Buildings Scheme, the tax break approach announced today depends on the whim of the Government in the months and years ahead. Unfortunately the energy efficiency industry is only too aware of the Government’s track record of dumping renewable energy and energy efficiency schemes overnight, especially if they are becoming too successful.

“Whilst a few buildings will be upgraded, all the Government has done is leave industry without certainty and without long term drivers for investment in this vital sector.”

“It is now evident that the Gillard government has no intention of transforming the economy to a low carbon future but instead is only interested in a few fig leaves for the election.”