Solar for Apartments program
Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (17:47): (996) My adjournment matter today is for the Minister for Energy and Resources in the other place. Where you live absolutely should not restrict your ability to be part of the renewable revolution, and the Allan Labor government is ensuring that everyone can access cheap solar energy, slashing their energy bills each and every day. Even on the top of my electorate office in Brunswick we have got some solar panels. You can too, through the Allan Labor government’s Solar for Apartments program. In my electorate of the Northern Metropolitan Region, where we have so many people living in apartments – most especially renters, can I say – I have had so many locals raise with me the challenges of installing solar on apartment buildings. This program, Solar for Apartments, slashes the up-front costs and streamlines the installation process, making cheaper energy bills accessible to them.
From February to May this year the first round was open for applications, and can I just say it was so very good to see the demand. It was quite incredible in this first round; the application period actually was extended. We will see the second round open very soon – in August in fact – which is great news for those that were not able to apply earlier this year. I know that it is something that has been the topic of much conversation in the Northern Metropolitan Region. So my matter for the minister is to ask her to join me in visiting some of the successful applicants in Northern Metro to see the benefits of the panels firsthand, not just on the rooftops but maybe they could share the impact of those savings on their bills as well.