Sir John Howard wrote:
> Reverse solar subsidy cut, say Greens
>
> http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23714640-29277,00.html
>
> GREENS leader Bob Brown today urged Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to
> reverse the Budget blunder which had devastated solar power businesses
> around Australia.
>
> Senator Brown said voters had expected the Rudd Government to use its
> first Budget to tackle climate change.
>
> "Instead this was an Exocet missile into a key industry for reducing
> greenhouse gas emissions," he said in a statement.
>
> "This is a stunning solar stuffup for Labor's first Budget."
>
> In a move announced in the Budget, only households earning less than
> $100,000 will be eligible for the $8000 rebate, aimed at offsetting
> the cost of installing solar panels to generate electricity.
>
> The threshold is lower than the $150,000 earnings limit the Government
> also announced in the Budget for households to receive certain family
> tax benefits.
>
> This move has prompted widespread complaints of cancelled orders from
> across the solar panel installation industry.
>
> Senator Brown said this obviously was not thought through.
>
> "If either (Environment Minister) Peter Garrett or (Climate Change
> Minister) Penny Wong were consulted or backed this absurd move they
> should hang their heads in shame. Their silence has been deafening,"
> he said.
>
> Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said only the environment would
> suffer from this move.
>
> "One day they're telling us that someone who earns $150,000 is rich -
> the next day apparently, if you earn $100,000 you're rich," he said.
>
> Dr Nelson said this was unfair to households that are considering
> solar panels and a step backwards in reducing greenhouse gas
> emissions.
>
> "The Government seems to think that someone who earns $100,000 is
> rich," Dr Nelson said.
>
> "And how do you put a means test on the environment?"
>
> -----------------------------------
>
> Yep, no doubt about it. KRudd is a slimy arsehole.
Solar Panels have never been a cheap alternative and probably
never will be. Their only affordable if somebody else pays
for them. And even then won't pay themselves for at 10-15 years,
by then will need replacing also.
If every house in Oz has solar panels so the demand for
Power Stations is reduced, the unit cost is just going to
sky-rocket. Iemma will once again be forced to give handouts
to the Chinese Owners of the Power Stations for lost
revenue, and you'll be paying more Tax to cover it.
You can also apply the same rules to Electric vs Petrol
cars. If everyone had a Electric Car the world would be
Bankrupt.
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