SEA criticises government for axing solar hot water rebate

The Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA) has criticised the Australian Government for axing the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme, with SEA Chief Executive Professor Ray Wills “lost for words” by the decision.

In a media release, the SEA said the sudden termination of the program “is likely to have significant short-term negative impacts on solar hot water manufacturing, wholesale, retail and installation businesses across Australia as well as those businesses who supply goods and services to them.”

Professor Wills said, “Sudden termination of schemes is a poor way to manage markets and will put jobs at risk. A far more controlled and fiscally responsible approach would have been to announce some scale back - say a 50% reduction - in the rebates, not to end them completely.

“The renewable energy industry continues to be plagued by government decisions at both federal and state levels that lead to boom/bust cycles and fail to provide the conditions needed to grow the industry sustainably.”

Professor Wills expressed his shock at the sudden decision: “SEA media releases are usually longer, but continuous decisions like this are leaving me lost for words. In 2012 we should have learnt something from the poor decisions of 2011 - it appears we have not.”