[Greens-Media] Barry's $15m solar bonus pain for Nats and Libs MPs

[John Kaye]

Barry's $15 m solar bonus pain for Nats and Libs MPs

Media release: 24 May 2011

Over the next five and a half years, the O'Farrell government's
retrospective cut to the solar bonus tariff is set to cost households more
than $15 million in each of fifteen Coalition-held seats according to the
Greens' analysis released today. ('Coalition MPs feel the heat over solar
bonus backlash', SMH 24 May p. 5, http://j.mp/smh110524)

Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: "While the most recent publicly available data
on the number of connections is from June 2010, it is clear from our best
estimates that voters in seats like Ballina, Lismore, Bega, Oxley, Blue
Mountains and Tweed would lose millions of dollars if Mr O'Farrell pushes
ahead.

"Marginal seat holders like Garry Edwards in Swansea, Darren Webber Wyong,
Tim Owen in Newcastle and Environment Minister Robyn Parker in Maitland
should be speaking up for their constituents in today's Coalition party room
meeting.

"The O'Farrell government has access to the data to allow a much more
accurate estimate of economic costs in each electorate.

"However Premier Barry O'Farrell would not want the detailed connections
information in the public domain because it would scare the living daylights
out of some of their already highly spooked party room members.

"There are some not-very-wealthy Coalition-held Mid North Coast electorates
where the Greens estimate solar households stand to lose more than $20
million over the next five and a half years.

"Barry O'Farrell knows he does not have to punish households to balance the
scheme and make the solar industry sustainable. Making the electricty
retailers to pay for the solar energy they currently receive for free would
return the scheme to the black without breaking the promise of 60 cents per
kilowatt-hour.

"The Coalition party room can live up to the promise it made in opposition
without stripping millions of dollars from its voters and destroying the
future for 5,400 employees and 830 small businesses in the solar industry.

"All they need to do is end the free ride that the retailers have been
enjoying for 16 months and force them to pay for the energy they receive,"
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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