Australian Politics Forum - O'Farrell breaks solar promise

Please delete Gold Member Offline Please delete this smacking PROFILE Posts: 2936	Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie? Reply #15 - May 19^th, 2011 at 9:35am If you read that cached link, verge, O'Farrell seems to be claiming the policy as his own, and of course he supported it from opposition - so does he take the blame as well? "The Labor Government mimicked the policy"
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Dnarever

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #16 - May 19^th, 2011 at 9:42am

Verge wrote on May 19^th, 2011 at 9:23am:

Please delete wrote on May 19^th, 2011 at 9:16am:

To maintain the 60c per KW rebate.

More generally, to honour all the previous governments commitments.

He is proposing to RETROSPECTIVELY dishonour contract signed with solar customers.

Something that Kennett described as against Liberal Party principles.

Where did he promise to honour the $0.60?
Where did he promise to honour ALL prior government committments?
Kennett wasnt inheriting a mess like the Libs in NSW either was he.

The $0.60 is a joke, and lead to a ridicious uptake not to save the envirnment, but because people could make easy money from it.

The $0.60 is a gross rate, and should never have been implemented.

It should have been the same as Victoria, where it is a nett rate.

To honour all of Labors commitments was part of their election campaign. They also stated clearly in the campaign that they found retrospective legislation to be repugnant.

Interesting is the fact that since they announced this legislation they have removed their election policy from their web site.

This shows that it is not only dishonest but that they knew it was dishonest.

This is the same lie which Gillard made - went to the polls with one policy and is then implementing the opposite.

I bet the anti Gillard crowd do not get on the bus over the Liberals telling the same lie.

Many of the 100,000 affected are saying that they would not have voted Liberal had they known about this.

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #17 - May 19^th, 2011 at 9:51am

Mr Hartcher.

As a retired farmer and self funded retiree and after years of struggling through a drought without relying on government assistance we invested a good portion of our superannuation into a 10kw solar system. Many farmers invested in this scheme as a way of diversifying their farming enterprise and in attempt to financially drought proof their farming income, you are personally failing the very voter who helped you gain power. Now thanks to your proposed legislation you are going to break a contract and financially ruin our future financial income. So much for the Liberal Party's contract and new 5 Point Plan Point 4 of this plan was Accountability - " We will be honest and accountable." What a joke. What voter of NSW can ever trust the Liberal Party again. Show us that you are honest and accountable to the original investors of the Solar Bonus Scheme. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO PROCEED. No other investment, financial or business institution would be allowed by law to break a contract what makes the NSW Liberal free to do this.

http://www.nsw.liberal.org.au/news/resources-and-energy/john-robertsons-bungled-oolar-bonus-ocheme.html#comment-2688

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Equitist

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #18 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:02am

Please delete wrote on May 19^th, 2011 at 9:25am:

A recently removed statement on Barry O'Farrell's web site, still available via Google's cache feature read, "The NSW Liberal & Nationals policy will ensure that NSW leads Australia in establishing a decentralised energy sector, by honouring the State Government’s current commitments".

In a statement to the NSW Legislative Assembly on October 27, 2010, current NSW Minister for Family and Community Services, Pru Goward stated, "[The Opposition] understand that all existing participants must have their existing agreements honoured. This side of politics particularly understands the importance of retrospectivity. I want to be very clear on this point: A future O'Farrell-Stoner Government, a Liberal-Nationals Government, will also honour those agreements."

AuSES also says in the days leading up to the election, current Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner, made the following statement in a letter to a constituent: "I state for the record that a future O’Farrell Government will honour all accepted applications as a matter of faith. The Opposition’s longstanding opposition to retrospective change will mean that all applications accepted by the Government will be honoured by a future O’Farrell Government."

http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=1517

Here is a snapshot of said cache: -

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Lib_site_cache_-_Renewable_energy_buy-back_scheme.jpg (246 KB | 40 )

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #19 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:09am

I thought all rebates to the middle and high income earners were nothing more than wealthfare and wouldn't middle and high income earners be the ones installing solar systems as poor people usually don't own a house on which to place a solar cell?

I am I wrong and only some rebates are wealthfare and some are not depending on whether you are the one receiving it or not.

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Equitist

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #20 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:11am

This is the text-only version of said cache: -

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vLQVngZlisAJ:www.nsw.libera...

Quote:

This is Google's cache of http://www.nsw.liberal.org.au/policies/environmental-sustainability/renewable-energy-buy-back-scheme.html. It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on 16 May 2011 07:29:19 GMT. The current page could have changed in the meantime. Learn more

Full version
These search terms are highlighted: nsw liberal nationals policy will ensure

The Liberal Party of Australia, NSW Division

liberal-website-homepage-110207

Renewable energy buy-back scheme

Effective action on environmental issues requires sensible policies that deliver practical and real improvements.

The NSW Liberals & Nationals will introduce market mechanisms that will encourage people to use renewable energy.

We will introduce a renewable energy buy-back scheme – sometimes known as a feed-in tariff. The scheme will:

be a credit or payment to households, institutions or businesses for the renewable power they produce. This will include small-scale solar power from household rooftops; and
encourage households to make decisions that save energy bills over the medium term.

The NSW Liberals & Nationals policy for a gross feed-in tariff was first announced in October 2008. The Labor Government mimicked the policy when it adopted a Solar Bonus Scheme in November 2009 for small solar photovoltaic installations.

Despite this, the government has excluded many renewable and innovative energy sources, as well as involvement from many commercial energy users who are best positioned to take up decentralised generation.

It is estimated that if 5,000 households take advantage of the scheme, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is the equivalent of taking 16,250 cars off the road.

Decentralised generation can reduce demand for costly generation and transmission infrastructure, and can reduce the peak price of electricity.

The NSW Liberal & Nationals policy will ensure that NSW leads Australia in establishing a decentralised energy sector, by honouring the State Government’s current commitments and improving the scheme to make it more effective. A comprehensive scheme could cut NSW’s emissions by around 1 per cent per annum.

Last modified on Thursday, 17 February 2011 19:53
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Published in Environmental Sustainability
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Now, to some of the comments: -

Quote:

comments

0 Amanda 2011-05-13 16:01 #40
Well, today's decision makes the above policy statement seem like a complete bucket of poo now, doesnt it!

I don't believe that this decision to drop everyone who signed up for a 'legislated 60c tariff until 2016' can possibly be legal. Many many people signed up for something that was touted by the then government as being 'legislated until 2016'.

Mr O'Farrell - this decision today is irresponsible.

All people who spent thousands and thousands of dollars on their systems based on a 60c tariff should form a class action against THIS government for loss of the financial benefit of their systems, thanks to todays ill-advised and generally stupid decision.

0 chris 2011-04-30 14:35 #39
Hi Barry

Can u tell me?

1. Do you think the axing of the solar bonus rebate will cost jobs in NSW & force skilled NSW tradesman to other states of Australia?

2. When u say the solar bonus scheme will cost NSW around 1.9 billion.
Does this take into account the billions of dollars NSW has now saved not needing as much upgrading of electricity networks due to air conditioner installs & higher consumer demand?

3. Do u concur originally labour had a plan to privatise the electricity network, so they made a don’t look a gift horse in the mouth offer to NSW householders with a 60c feed in tariff. Which would reduce the need for investment on electricity infrastructure therefore making the network worth more attractive to potential buyers come selling time?

4.do you agree the ongoing electricity price rises in NSW is mainly because the previous NSW labour government continually diverted money made by the network to other projects instead of spending it on upgrading the network?.

5. Will the scheme be replaced? If yes don’t you think it was a bit of a knee jerk reaction to totally freeze the scheme which will now cost jobs in the industry due to reduced solar demand in NSW?

6. If electricity prices rise by 17 % in July turning the average price of electricity from 19c per kwh to around 22.2c per kwh. Do you agree the average consumer would be better off on a net feed tariff by 2.2c per kwh anyway making axing the rebate pointless & costing jobs.

I agree we need a change to the solar bonus scheme but by just looking at the dollar amount figure the scheme has cost NSW & not the bigger picture is a mistake

If a net feed in tariff of say 25c per kwh is offered to NSW householders as a temporary solution, which will cost NSW taxpayers virtually nothing to run because the average house hold will just be offsetting there bills with it.

Regards
chris

0 Aaron 2011-04-28 19:41 #38
Hi Barry

Can we please have some ideas as to what is going to happen...

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Equitist Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 9632 NSW	Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie? Reply #21 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:18am This is the sort of contract breach that ought to be subject to a Class Action... It seems to be a fairly clear case of breach to me...
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Dnarever

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #22 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:18am

This shows the Liberals commitment to Honour the current contracts.

This has been removed from the Liberals web site in the last few days.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&q=ca...

"Effective action on environmental issues requires sensible policies that deliver practical and real improvements.

The NSW Liberals & Nationals will introduce market mechanisms that will encourage people to use renewable energy.

We will introduce a renewable energy buy-back scheme – sometimes known as a feed-in tariff. The scheme will:

be a credit or payment to households, institutions or businesses for the renewable power they produce. This will include small-scale solar power from household rooftops; and
encourage households to make decisions that save energy bills over the medium term.
The NSW Liberals & Nationals policy for a gross feed-in tariff was first announced in October 2008. The Labor Government mimicked the policy when it adopted a Solar Bonus Scheme in November 2009 for small solar photovoltaic installations.

Despite this, the government has excluded many renewable and innovative energy sources, as well as involvement from many commercial energy users who are best positioned to take up decentralised generation.

It is estimated that if 5,000 households take advantage of the scheme, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is the equivalent of taking 16,250 cars off the road.

Decentralised generation can reduce demand for costly generation and transmission infrastructure, and can reduce the peak price of electricity.

The NSW Liberal & Nationals policy will ensure that NSW leads Australia in establishing a decentralised energy sector, by honouring the State Government’s current commitments and improving the scheme to make it more effective. A comprehensive scheme could cut NSW’s emissions by around 1 per cent per annum."

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...

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #23 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:22am

Weeeeell, the net feed in traiff is, and always has been 40c in WA, and that seems perfectly reasonable considering we buy it from the power company at less than half that price. Whoever set it at 60c really didn't think it through. That said, the tariff is THE major factor in calculating whether it is vaible to go solar, so if it was promised till 2016, it should stay until 2016.

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remember_when64 Full Member Offline C'est la vie Posts: 172	Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie? Reply #24 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:23am Verge wrote on May 19^th, 2011 at 9:23am: Kennett wasnt inheriting a mess like the Libs in NSW either was he. Yes. Victoria was almost bankrupt due to the ineptitude of the previous Labor governments.
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Dnarever

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #25 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:26am

BigOl64 wrote on May 19^th, 2011 at 10:09am:

I thought all rebates to the middle and high income earners were nothing more than wealthfare and wouldn't middle and high income earners be the ones installing solar systems as poor people usually don't own a house on which to place a solar cell?

I am I wrong and only some rebates are wealthfare and some are not depending on whether you are the one receiving it or not.

Funny when Gillard back flips on an election promise the problem is about honesty but when the Liberals do the same thing it is about the content of the policy or targeting.

The point is that the same as Gillard the Liberals had an election commitment to not do this and it has been shown to be a Lie.

They also supposedly do not believe in retrospective legislation.

People have spent a lot of money based on signed contracts they have which the state government is not going to honour - even though they had a pre election commitment guaranteeing that the contracts would be honoured.

That is despicable by any standard: the only bit of levity is the fact that virtually all of them voted Liberal and should have known better if they were expecting honesty.

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Equitist

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #26 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:31am

Dnarever wrote on May 19^th, 2011 at 10:18am:

This shows the Liberals commitment to Honour the current contracts.

This has been removed from the Liberals web site in the last few days.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&q=ca...

"Effective action on environmental issues requires sensible policies that deliver practical and real improvements.

The NSW Liberals & Nationals will introduce market mechanisms that will encourage people to use renewable energy.

We will introduce a renewable energy buy-back scheme – sometimes known as a feed-in tariff. The scheme will:

be a credit or payment to households, institutions or businesses for the renewable power they produce. This will include small-scale solar power from household rooftops; and
encourage households to make decisions that save energy bills over the medium term.
The NSW Liberals & Nationals policy for a gross feed-in tariff was first announced in October 2008. The Labor Government mimicked the policy when it adopted a Solar Bonus Scheme in November 2009 for small solar photovoltaic installations.

Despite this, the government has excluded many renewable and innovative energy sources, as well as involvement from many commercial energy users who are best positioned to take up decentralised generation.

It is estimated that if 5,000 households take advantage of the scheme, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is the equivalent of taking 16,250 cars off the road.

Decentralised generation can reduce demand for costly generation and transmission infrastructure, and can reduce the peak price of electricity.

The NSW Liberal & Nationals policy will ensure that NSW leads Australia in establishing a decentralised energy sector, by honouring the State Government’s current commitments and improving the scheme to make it more effective. A comprehensive scheme could cut NSW’s emissions by around 1 per cent per annum."

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Snapshot_NSW_Lib_site_cache_as_at_12_May_2011_-_Renewable_energy_buy-back_scheme.jpg (240 KB | 44 )

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Equitist

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #27 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:40am

Hmmnnn....there are claims that the changed policy will affect 100,000 households - but the latest Lib claims estimate that only 5,000 people will take up their revised rubbery proposal...

Either way, if those 100,000 existing households are retrospectively-hit by the Libs reneging on their pre-election commitment, each and every one of them will be bitching to at least 10 other households, who will in turn bitch to others...

That's a heck of a lot of NSW voters who won't trust the Libs - at any level of Govt...

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skippy.

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #28 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:46am

Quote:

That's a heck of a lot of NSW voters who won't trust the Libs - at any level of Govt...

As I've said for a while, the best thing for federal Labor is for the states to revert to Liberal govs, after a while of seeing the Libs lies in practice, federal Labor will be safe for years, just like the rodent was when all the states were Labor.

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BigOl64

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Re: O'Farrell breaks solar promise - a lie?
Reply #29 - May 19^th, 2011 at 10:49am

I though NSW was broke due to labor fiscal mismanagement, paying 0.60 a Kw probaly didn't help.

If NSW wants to balance its budget then it's going to have to eat a great big sh1t sandwhich with no bread to get out of the hole.

You can't keep handing out wealthfare and expect to balance your budget, just ask the greeks or irish how their economies are working out.

Harden up people it was a great rort while it lasted, the kitty is empty, time to look affter yourself.

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