Solar rebates may be delayed for months
11:52 AEST Thu Jun 18 2009
By Cathy Alexander
A scheme to massively boost renewable energy has been put on hold, casting doubt on whether there will be any rebate for solar panels for months.
The Senate has delayed a vote on the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme until at least August.
The government axed its $8,000 rebate for solar panels last week, and a new, smaller rebate will not start until the RET laws have passed parliament.
The government had planned for a vote on the RET next week, but senators voted on Thursday to refer the bill to an upper house committee.
It is due to report back on August 12, delaying a vote until at least then.
The government is struggling to have parliament approve its climate change agenda with the Senate possibly delaying a vote next week on its policy centrepiece, an emissions trading scheme.
Labor’s move to link the RET with its embattled emissions trading scheme was seen as controversial. The delay in the vote on the RET buys some time for critics of the move.
Family First senator Steve Fielding moved to refer the RET to the Senate’s economics legislation committee, and was supported by the coalition and Independent Nick Xenophon.
Liberal senator Stephen Parry said the reference would allow for proper scrutiny of the bill.
Manager of government business Joe Ludwig said there was no need for delay.
“It is in the interests of the renewable energy industry to deal with this matter,” he said.
Australian Greens senator Christine Milne strongly opposed a delay in the vote, saying the scheme had already been held up long enough.
Big polluters who wanted to secure assistance under the RET had been pushing for a delay.
“There can be no excuse for this kind of delay,” she said.
Source: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=827016