[Greens-Media] Government slashes help for local council energy cost cutting

[Hetherington, Alison (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Government slashes help for council energy cost cutting

The federal government's decision to slash funding to local councils to improve energy efficiency is a blow to ratepayers around the nation, Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne told the annual local government conference in Canberra today.

"The low carbon communities fund was helping local councils to reduce the costs of running community halls, replacing street lights with energy-efficient globes and installing co-generation systems in large public buildings," Senator Milne said

"All these projects aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy cost pressures for local councils.

"It's a great disappointment that the federal government chose to cut this funding after only one year. Many local councils which planned to apply for funding in the coming year will have had the rug pulled out from under them by the government's Budget decision," Senator Milne said.

The low carbon communities funding program was part of the 2011 climate change package negotiated by the Greens, Labor and some independent MPs. Local councils which benefitted from the first round of funding are listed here: http://ee.ret.gov.au/energy-efficiency/grants/community-energy-efficiency-program/grants-reporting


Media Contact: Georgie Klug 0438 376 082