Not content with signing the death warrant for the solar panel industry, Labor is now callously turning its back on the pleas for help. The Federal Government should listen to the solar industry and reverse their decision to means-test the rooftop solar rebate Greens candidate for Gippsland Dr Malcolm McKelvie said today.

"Its already clear that taking away funding to help people install solar power systems was a huge mistake.” said Dr McKelvie. “If the ALP hope to start reducing the country’s greenhouse gasses, let alone have any chance of gaining voter confidence in Gippsland, it must admit its mistake and reverse the decision immediately.

"Plans to review how the solar means test impacts on people is just stalling. It is not the ‘overheating’ of the scheme they need to worry about, it’s the planet that’s overheating, it’s our weather, agriculture, water and the many climatic extremes we are seeing from too much burning of fossil fuels.”

"Besides climate impact, the other impact of the solar rebate means-test was obvious from day one. Jobs are being lost and the viability of small renewable energy businesses is seriously threatened.

”Clear thinking and some foresight would have prevented a lot of pain for people and would have also kept the number of solar installations increasing at a time when it is so essential.

"We would like to hear Darren McCubbin announce during this election on behalf of the ALP, that they will do away with means-testing the solar power rebates.

For comments Dr Malcolm McKelvie 0417 364 615

Greens Candidate for Gippsland By – Electionwww.cgn.org.au/Malcolm_McKelvie gippsland@greens.org.au