Technically the Australian Government has directed that the Clean Energy Finance Corporation no longer invest in small scale or residential solar. This normally came in the form of a rebate for households that installed panels and accounted for about a third of all investment by the corporation.
This is a day after they directed the CEFC to no longer invest in wind generation. The Liberal government are quite open about their desire to shut down the CEFC in its entirety, this is just one step in that direction.
I've lived decades in New Zealand and Britain and moved to Australia a few years ago. It is a wonderful country filled with progressive, intelligent people. I have never experience anything even remotely comparable to the paucity of talent in Australian politics, we are ruled by neanderthals.
The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, is a xenophobic mouth-breathing anachronism direct from the 1950s who struggles to form full sentences. He's recently announced a commission into wind turbines and is on the record as saying coal is 'good for humanity'. He's not being ironic or making a clever economic argument, both would be beyond him.
His cabinet are a mixture of the deranged and the spineless, the Treasurer recently agreed that the actions of new mothers claiming paid parental leave was 'basically fraud', called them 'rorters', all the while he claims $270/night in travel allowance to pay rent on a property owned by his wife while he stays in the capital. The arrogance and stupidity of these idiots is unparalleled.
Depressingly, if there were an election tomorrow they would likely win another term. Australia calls itself 'the lucky country', well, it's good to be lucky if you're stupid I guess, but you won't stay rich with this sort of leadership.
I don't find this kind of comment very helpful. You can't be slightly more charitable to the positions of a government a majority of your fellow citizens voted for? You don't have to agree with them, but you can attempt to understand why they might hold those views without needing to be racist or stupid.
I'm not keen on many of the positions of President Obama, Harry Reid or Rand Paul, but I wouldn't describe them as "mouth breathers" on HN.
I'm not a citizen of Australia, they didn't win a majority they won a plurality, and regardless I don't feel any compunction when describing Abbott as a mouth breather.
As I explained clearly in my comment, I have never experienced anything like the paucity of talent in Australian politics. I'm capable of disagreeing with the government of the day while respecting the intelligence or talent at play.
I'm perfectly comfortable with my description of Abbott and I stand by it.
Seems a bit odd to use it as an insult though, as quite a few people (myself included) are more or less 'mouth breathers' because of medical conditions.
We all breath through our mouths. I could have described him as having 'slopey shoulders', I doubt the progenitor of that insult intended people with back problems to take insult, though I guess some may take it too literally.
The majority of the population did not vote for the complete undermining of the clean energy sector in Australia. We were promised a moderate, consultative government with "no surprises" as Tony Abbott once put it. A country with such a rich history of scientific innovation deserves so much better.
Subsidising the research of solar panels sounds like it might be a good idea, but subsidising the installation of solar panels... I don't see the use in that. Could you explain why you think subsidising the installation of solar panels is a good thing?
You decouple power supply from concentrated sources, this reduces the need for centralised base load power generation.
There are also gains in the community by establishing buy in from home owners, The concepts of sustainability are easier to grasp if its on your roof and you get a return on your investment.
I'm not overly concerned with subsidising residential solar, however I think subsidising research and innovation in solar, wind, and other alternate energy systems is worthwhile and funds like this are one way of stimulating a market.
Assuming it's a profitable investment, wouldn't this be an opportunity for corporations to take the place of the government? For example, banks could make loans to homeowners for solar installations that could be paid back with their energy savings.
I'm actually not surprised. I've always had the impression that Australia is rather conservative and backward looking. Not that their treatment of refugees, or, on the other hand, the pathetic incident like the recent one with Johnny Depp, are the norme these days, but the fact that australia is becoming the favorite destination for right wing Americans disappointed with recent gay marriage ruling,that speaks volumes.
While I agree with your assessment of the LNP, I think the ALP currently lead in the two party preferred. There is some rather nasty economic data coming our way over the next 12 months and I can't see the LNP building support on the back of this.
Simple. The implosion of the previous government (it changed leader multiple times) with rampant infighting combined with the sheer force of the Murdoch papers which are still influential in Australia.
I live in an urban area, I would be more correct to say I am surrounded by progressive, intelligent people.
Australia is more conservative that either New Zealand or Britain, and the previous Labour government (and current opposition) are categorically hopeless.
This is a day after they directed the CEFC to no longer invest in wind generation. The Liberal government are quite open about their desire to shut down the CEFC in its entirety, this is just one step in that direction.
I've lived decades in New Zealand and Britain and moved to Australia a few years ago. It is a wonderful country filled with progressive, intelligent people. I have never experience anything even remotely comparable to the paucity of talent in Australian politics, we are ruled by neanderthals.
The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, is a xenophobic mouth-breathing anachronism direct from the 1950s who struggles to form full sentences. He's recently announced a commission into wind turbines and is on the record as saying coal is 'good for humanity'. He's not being ironic or making a clever economic argument, both would be beyond him.
His cabinet are a mixture of the deranged and the spineless, the Treasurer recently agreed that the actions of new mothers claiming paid parental leave was 'basically fraud', called them 'rorters', all the while he claims $270/night in travel allowance to pay rent on a property owned by his wife while he stays in the capital. The arrogance and stupidity of these idiots is unparalleled.
Depressingly, if there were an election tomorrow they would likely win another term. Australia calls itself 'the lucky country', well, it's good to be lucky if you're stupid I guess, but you won't stay rich with this sort of leadership.