[Greens-Media] Liberal rebel outs O'Farrell's solar treachery

[John Kaye]

Liberal rebel outs O'Farrell's solar treachery

Media release: 18 May 2011

Coalition NSW Upper House MP and former Shadow Environment Minister
Catherine Cusack has plunged Premier Barry O'Farrell's retrospective solar
bonus legislation into an even deeper crisis, according to Greens NSW MP
John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "Ms Cusack's letter to the Premier reflects the anger felt by
110,000 NSW households who invested in solar power on a promise of 60 cents
for each kilowatt-hour they generated until 2017.

"As she told her leader, cutting the tariff to 40 cents on existing
customers would be 'unprecedented and repugnant'.

"By reminding Mr O'Farrell of the long-held Liberal abhorrence of
retrospective legislation, Catherine Cusack has added fuel to the mounting
solar revolt.

"She is to be congratulated for having the courage to force the Premier to
confront the promise the Coalition made in Opposition to honour the 60 c/kWh
tariff for existing bonus scheme participants.

"Barry O'Farrell and his Energy Minister Chris Hartcher cannot simply
dismiss Ms Cusack's outrage.

"Their treatment of solar households and the 5,400 people who work in the
industry is unconscionable and thoroughly deserves condemnation.

"No government would treat the coal industry with the utter contempt and
treachery the Coalition is dealing out to people who did the right thing by
the environment and invested in NSW's solar future.

"Households and installers are being caused 'deliberate and disproportionate
harm' because Mr Hartcher and Mr O'Farrell thought they were politically
powerless.

"The growing movement to stop the retrospective cut to the tariff could well
prove the Coalition leaders very wrong.

"The Greens invite Catherine Cusack to vote for our amendments that would
protect the 60 c/kWh promise she and the Coalition gave to parliament last
year," Dr Kaye said.

For more information:    John Kaye 0407 195 455


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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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