Solar panel industry slumping by 60%
Since Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett refused to meet with an industry delegation, the manufacturers of solar panels have been feeling sidelined.
The solar panel industry has experienced up to a 60% drop in activity since the federal government introduced a means test for the solar panel rebate.
The rebate provides up to $8,000 to households installing solar panels, leaving customers with about $3,000-$4,000 to pay themselves.
But six weeks ago the government limited the rebate to households with a combined income of less than $100,000.
Rodger Mead, CEO of Conergy, the third largest supplier of solar panels in the country, says his company's sales have slumped by up to 60% since the announcement in the May budget.
Sun may be setting on solar panel industry
Rodger says distributors he sells to have laid off staff and had to stop hiring new staff.
He says the means test is also driving away development in the industry.
The Solar Industry says it was not consulted before the announcement in the budget.
To add to the disappointment, the means testing of the rebate kicked in immediately, not on July 1, 2008, like most of the other tax changes.
A delegation of four solar companies (Conergy, Solco, Green Energy Trading and Solartec Renewables) travelled to Canberra and were denied a meeting by Environment Minister Peter Garrett, Senator Milne (Greens), Industry Minister's adviser and Greg Hunt, Shadow Environment Minister. Ministers Wong, Ferguson, Tanner and the Treasurer's office.
The Federal Opposition has introduced a "Save Our Solar" Bill into parliament and it's now up the government whether it will be debated.
Despite news reports in early June saying Mr Garrett would re-examine the means test of the solar rebate once evidence was in of the impact on the solar industry, last Sunday Treasurer Wayne Swan stood firm declaring there would be no change to the means test.
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No review of solar rebate means test – Yahoo!7 NEWS
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