Page 865 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 27 February 2013
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Analysis undertaken by the government in action plan 2 demonstrated the vast potential for energy efficiency improvements across the territory. One of the most important ways this is being achieved is through the new energy efficiency improvement scheme, which commenced on 1 January this year. This scheme is now being rolled out to households across the territory and places an obligation on electricity retailers to support households to put in place energy efficiency measures, saving them energy and money.
The scheme has a particular emphasis on low income households that are otherwise economically constrained from being able to save money from reducing their energy use and using energy more efficiently. Examples of activities in the scheme include replacing inefficient or greenhouse-intensive heaters, air-conditioners and water heaters as well as improvements such as double glazing, stand-by measures in relation to power and draught sealing. The expansion of the scheme to the non-residential sector, where there is also great potential for energy efficiency and saving small businesses money, is also currently under the government’s consideration.
The scheme will run initially until the end of December 2015, and we anticipate that it will reduce residential sector emissions by around five per cent by 2020, or around three-quarters of a million tonnes. So three-quarters of a million tonnes alone can be achieved through this scheme, a scheme that those opposite voted against. They voted against it even though it shows a saving to households of approximately $300 a year off their electricity bills. What hypocrisy from those opposite. Again, the heads are down and they do not want to engage in this debate.
What hypocrisy from those opposite, Mr Assistant Speaker, because they talk about the cost of living and they vote against a measure that saves households who participate on average $300 over the three-year period of the scheme. That is the hypocrisy of those opposite. They talk about being concerned about the cost of living, but they refuse to vote for a measure that every other Liberal government in the country says makes sense, that saves people money, that reduces electricity bills and that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. What a complete failure on the part of those opposite.
But, of course, there is more work to be done and more work is being done by the government. We are implementing a range of other schemes, including the outreach low income efficiency program, which is helping low income households to save money on their electricity bills. The ACTSmart business energy and water program and the HEAT program continue to be deployed to support our community to save money, to improve energy efficiency and to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
The government is also focusing on its own operation. In particular, in the most recent budget there was $5 million to establish the carbon neutral government fund, a loan facility at two government agencies designed to identify measures and support agencies to save money on their own electricity bills and, of course, return that to the taxpayer. These are the types of measures this government is committed to. There are a range of others: the rollout of large-scale renewable energy, the deployment of measures to encourage mode shift and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
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