Australian environment groups have almost universally condemned the federal budget handed down by the conservative Liberal-National government with some saying it has permanently damaged both the environment, along with the coalition’s environmental credentials.
The budget speech delivered by the Treasurer Joe Hockey confirmed that the government would move to abolish the primary renewable energy agency, the $3.1 billion Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), cut the planned “one million solar roofs program, and cast doubt on the future of the Renewable Energy Target (RET).
One group, the Australian Solar Council labeled the environmental aspects of the budget a “trifecta of broken promises” and “a boulevard of broken dreams”.
Keeping ARENA and promoting the solar roofs program were both promises taken to last year’s federal election by the Liberal-National government led by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
ARENA will have the funds to support 181 projects, worth about $1 billion, that have already been contracted since its creation in 2012, but will get just $15 million over each of the next two years for new projects.
The Liberal-National government needs to get legislation through both houses of parliament to abolish ARENA and there is every chance that legislation will be held up or fail in the upper house Senate, which the government does not control.
Shortly after Mr Hockey’s announcement ARENA issued a statement saying it would be continuing with business as usual under the statutory requirements of its legislation.
“In the meantime, ARENA will continue to perform its functions under the ARENA Act, including accepting and assessing applications,” ARENA Chair Greg Bourne said.
Environmental lobby group Environment Victoria described the federal budget as permanently damaging the environment.
Acting CEO Mark Wakeham said, “In opposition (Environment Minister) Greg Hunt made a very clear commitment days before the 2013 Federal election to retain the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
“Now we find ARENA will be axed along with the carbon price. Similarly the coalition promised to maintain Landcare funding.
“Now $484 million has been cut from Landcare and the Caring for Our Country programs.
“These decisions are extraordinarily damaging to both the environment and to public confidence in the coalition’s commitment to the environment.
“The coalition promising environmental protection and climate action in opposition, then slashing it in government is starting to look like a pattern,” Mr Wakeham said
Joining the criticism global environment group WWF said, “Axing the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the million solar roofs program is a body blow to renewable energy.”
WWF-Australia National Manager Climate Change Kellie Caught said, “It comes on top of the government’s plans to repeal the carbon price and amid fears that the Renewable Energy Target (RET) will be diluted or delayed.
“While the rest of the world embraces renewable energy these policies set Australia up to be a laggard not a leader.
“The government could reduce debt, invest in renewables and tackle climate change if it kept the carbon price and cut the $3 billion to $5 billion a year in fossil fuel subsides.
“National polling showed that given the choice Australian’s would rather keep the carbon price, than introduce the debt tax.
“While the increase in fuel excise could help drive consumers to more energy efficient vehicles and modes of transport, without the carbon price and programs to accelerate renewable investment, it’s a drop in the ocean,” Ms Caught added.
According to the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) the Liberal-National government’s first budget takes money away from clean energy, innovation and nature protection, in favour of subsidies for polluting industries.
ACF said the government has cut from conservation, innovation and anti-pollution measures, while it has rejected the opportunity to save at least $20 billion by reforming wasteful fossil fuel subsidies to big business.
“The Abbott Government’s first budget rips money away from conservation and anti-pollution measures while handing billions to wealthy multinationals in discount fuel,” said Australian Conservation Foundation CEO Kelly O’Shanassy.
“The big end of town’s diesel fuel subsidies cost every taxpayer around $300 a year,” Ms O’Shanassy said.
“While other motorists continue to pay 32c a litre now and more each year on fuel, companies like Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton pay no tax on the diesel they use.
“And because the fuel excise will increase every year, big corporations will get an increased subsidy every year,” she added.
Some of the strongest criticism of the budget came from the Australian Solar Council, which recently revealed it is putting together a $1 million fighting fund to attack the government.
“The budget has delivered a trifecta of broken promises to the solar industry,” said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Council.
“The government promised the Australian people an additional million solar roofs by 2020. The budget contains no funding to make this happen. A Million Solar Roofs is a mirage.
“The Government promised to maintain the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) but, instead, the budget has delivered a death warrant for ARENA.
“Unless the Senate stands up to the government, ARENA will be abolished.
“The Government promised to maintain the Renewable Energy Target but every indication is this key policy will also be thrown on the scrapheap.
“The budget is a boulevard of broken dreams for the solar industry. World-leading solar research and development will now end.
Mr Grimes said, “For decades, Australian solar researchers have led the world, developing the solar technologies of today and the future, but that all ends today.
“Whilst the government defends billions of dollars of fuel subsidies for wealthy miners, it has abolished our world-leading solar research,” Mr Grimes added.
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