[Greens-Media] Alert: Newcastle solar business - Pollies for Small Business

[Lee Rhiannon]

Media Alert - Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - 13 August 2008 

Pollies for Small Business: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon visits Newcastle
solar business

What:    Photo opportunity: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon, Director of Solar
Newcastle Adam Dalby, Hunter Business Chamber CEO Peter Shinnick and
Newcastle Greens Councillor Michael Osborne. Backdrop: Solar Newcastle's
working roof panels and computer systems.
When:   10.30am, Thursday 14 August 2008
Where:   Solar Newcastle, 122 Hannell Street, Wickham

Small businesses across NSW are once again putting politicians to work
as part of the NSW Business Chamber annual Pollies for Small Business
week.  Greens MP Lee Rhiannon will visit a Newcastle small business,
Solar Newcastle, locally owned and operated, which installs solar panels
for residential and commercial customers. Solar Newcastle will take Lee
to inspect a recent solar project for Newcastle TAFE.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon says she is looking forward to visting Solar
Newcastle to find out how the solar industry is travelling in the
Hunter, particularly since the federal government slashed the solar
rebate.

"By means testing the rooftop solar rebate the federal government
injured the solar industry at a time when it should be encouraging its
growth," Ms Rhiannon said.
 
"The Hunter is at a fork in the road - governments can choose to
support renewables like solar which are reliable, clean and limitless or
remain stuck in the dirty, polluting coal age.
 
*With its abundant sunshine the Hunter has enormous potential to
harness solar energy, moving it away from a reliance on coal.

"The slashing of the solar rebate was like a hit and run for the solar
industry which comprises many small businesses.
 
"Families in Newcastle whose income is over $100,000 who are keen to do
their bit for the planet are being discouraged from installing solar
panels.

"The Greens are calling for national feed-in laws to give certainty for
solar businesses, households wanting to install solar panels and
commercial investors.

NSW Business Chamber CEO, Kevin MacDonald said, "Pollies for Small
Business puts our politicians at the coalface and gives small business
operators the chance to raise their concerns directly with MPs."

The NSW Business Chamber Pollies for Small Business program is run in
cooperation with the local Chamber of Commerce network.

More information: Lee Rhiannon: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568.  
Statewide event co-ordinator: Chris Taylor 9350 8184.


--------------------------------------------------
Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Greens
Parliament of New South Wales
Macquarie St 
Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 
Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
lee.rhiannon at parliament.nsw.gov.au
http://www.lee.greens.org.au/
http://www.democracy4sale.org/ 

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