2016-09-13
Ripping more than half a billion dollars from funding for clean energy projects will hit Queensland jobs and the state’s renewables sector hard, Senator Larissa Waters has said.
“Ripping $500 million in grants for cutting edge renewable energy projects will be devastating for Queensland,” Senator Waters said.
“Right when our state needs more support from the Federal Government, Labor and the Liberals gang up to gut ARENA.
“Just last week ARENA announced funding for 5 large scale solar projects set to create more than 1,100 jobs in regional Queensland.
“Labor had absolutely no reason to cut half a billion dollars out of ARENA. If Bill Shorten had joined with the Greens and the crossbench, we could have stared the Coalition down and found fairer places to raise revenue."
“Queensland can lead the nation when it comes to investing in renewable energy and tackling dangerous global warming, but we are being let down by the old parties in Canberra.
“Right now parts of Queensland are in a jobs crisis as the coal and gas industries fire workers, and this cut to clean energy jobs is the last thing we need.
“Queenslanders deserve better than this and I’m disappointed to see Labor and the Liberals refusing to back real job creation in the clean enonomy.”
Media contact: Asia Munro 0419 626 725