Daniel Andrews’ solar program = less jobs and fewer solar panels

The solar rebate scheme lurches from one embarrassment to another with the latest monthly offer exhausted by applicants in less than two hours, says Shadow Minister for the Environment Ryan Smith.

At least in July it lasted three days.

The boom and bust cycle of this rebate is now killing businesses and costing jobs.

It is simply extraordinary that Labor’s signature solar initiative is causing such damage to a sector it is supposed to assist.

The story of EverSolar, a solar installer based in East Bentleigh, is typical of so many in the industry. Having previously installed over 100 installation units a month, EverSolar has recently been installing panels on customer homes at cost price just to keep the doors open.

EverSolar wasn’t even able to gain a single rebate approval in today’s monthly allocation.

Solar panel business owners and employees rallied on the steps on Parliament almost two weeks ago, where they spoke of closed businesses, the need to significantly downsize staff and their mental health issues.

Shockingly, under the solar panel rebate program, the number of state-wide residential installations has fallen from around 6,000 per month to the rebate cap of 3,333.

Daniel Andrews must immediately act to fix his rebate program that has cost jobs, closed businesses and actually halved the number of panels going up on Victorian houses.

Comments attributable to Ryan Smith, Shadow Minister for Energy & Renewable 

“At last week’s rally, men and women who were in tears spoke about seeing their businesses destroyed by this arrogant and uncaring government.”

“Attendees unanimously raised their hands when asked if they would prefer to see the rebate program scrapped. Daniel Andrews has damaged this industry so much that business owners would rather he kept the rebate money and left them alone.”

“If you are an installer who did not get a rebate approval today, Daniel Andrews’ botched program means you may not get a job for the rest of the month.”

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