On Friday the 19.02.2010, the Government announced a series of changes to the administration of the environmental programs to boost safety and improve environmental performance. These changes are aimed at boosting safety for households and safety for the workers whose employment is funded by these important environmental programs.
The following is taken from the Governments media release.
The changes announced by the Government include:
- The establishment of a new household Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme to replace the Home Insulation Program and the Solar Hot Water Rebate.
- The changes announced today will ensure the Government continues to help householders and business contribute to Australia’s efforts to transition to a low carbon economy.
The changes announced today put householders back in charge of the environmental products installed in their home. These changes will benefit good green businesses and are bad for the shonky operators who have begun exploiting this market.
A new household Renewable Energy Bonus scheme
A new household Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme will assist households save money on power bills and reduce their carbon emissions.
This new Scheme will replace the Home Insulation Program and the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program both of which have been discontinued as of close of business today. The Government’s focus is on the safety of households and tradespeople who will both benefit from the operation of this new scheme.
Under the household Renewable Energy Bonus scheme households will be able to receive a rebate for the installation of ceiling insulation or a solar hot water system or a heat pump. $1000 rebates will be available for ceiling installation and solar hot water systems and $600 rebates for heat pumps systems. The new rebate for solar hot water systems and heat pumps will be available for systems installed after today.
This scheme will institute several key changes to the delivery of ceiling insulation including:
- Householders – rather than installers – will claim the $1000 rebate directly through the Medicare system.
- Introducing a new registration scheme requiring all installers to reregister, pay a cash bond, show evidence of meeting the training and skills requirements and provide certified quality assurance and occupational health and safety plans.
- Introducing a strengthened compliance regime in concert with State and Territory occupational health and safety and fair trading authorities.
It is intended that the insulation component of the Renewable Energy Bonus scheme will come into operation by 1 June.
The Government’s objective remains to see insulation installed in up to 1.9 million homes, including those already installed under the discontinued Home Insulation Program, to be completed by 2011. The Government will also be commissioning an external assessment of the proposed implementation arrangements for the household Renewable Energy Bonus scheme and will continue to provide oversight to the scheme during its operation. This assessment will consider whether the arrangements and planned timelines proposed for the scheme’s implementation are sufficient to meet the Government’s expectations of safety.
In relation the discontinuation of the Home Insulation Program, installers will have seven days to claim outstanding rebates for work completed prior to close of business today. The Government is prepared to consider appropriate transitional arrangements for legitimate industry participants and a hotline will be available.
The Government attaches particular priority on the impact of this announcement on workers. Workers will have immediate access to assistance under the Government’s Compact for Retrenched Workers, meaning they will get immediate access to high level support, including access to retraining support and help in finding another job as quickly as possible. A hotline will be available for them too.
The Government will continue to roll out an existing electrical safety inspection program of all homes that have had foil insulation installed under the Program. The Government will also be prepared to check as many houses as necessary which have insulation installed under the Home Insulation Program.
The Government will also establish a new Home Insulation Program Review Office to handle all complaints and inquiries and immediately address risks created by unscrupulous operators and will appoint an independent reviewer to conduct a review of the Home Insulation Program design, implementation and delivery.
Brought to you by Tony Nash – RE/MAX Property Associates Sunshine Coast
Phone Tony and his team today on 07 5452 4545
www.rentaladvice.com.au
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