Inquiry into Save Our Solar (Solar Rebate Protection) Bill 2008 [No. 2]

Information about the Inquiry

The Senate has referred the following bill to the Committee for inquiry and report by 15 August 2008.

1. Save Our solar (Solar Rebate Protection) Bill 2008 [No. 2], together with the following matters:
   1. the impact of the means test threshold of $100,000 on the $8,000 solar rebate per household on the solar industry;
   2. the effect on the uptake of solar panels by Australian households, comparing state-by-state results;
   3. the impact on the number of applications for the $8,000 since the budget decision to impose the means test;
   4. the impact on jobs in the solar industry, comparing state-by-state results;
   5. the impact on emissions reductions as a consequence of this decision, comparing state-by-state results;
   6. the consultation that occurred within government, including departments and agencies, prior to the decision and the input of each department and agency on the measure;
   7. the economic and environmental modelling underpinning the decision to impose the means test;
   8. the extent of the discussion prior to the decision with the solar panel industry on the impact of the decision;
   9. the future viability of, and effects on, the solar industry as a result of the means test;
   10. the impact on the Solar Cities programs at various sites around Australia and other related programs; and
   11. other relevant matters.
2. That, as a minimum, the committee hold hearings in all Australian capital cities and hears evidence, inter alia, from Australia's solar industry.

The Committee is seeking written submissions from interested individuals and organisations preferably in electronic form sent by email to eca.sen@aph.gov.au. The email must include full postal address and contact details. The committee would prefer submissions by 21 July 2008.

Alternatively, submissions may be sent to The Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts, PO Box 6100 Parliament House, CANBERRA ACT 2600, or faxed to 02 6277 5818.

Submissions become committee documents and are made public only after a decision by the Committee. Persons making submissions must not release them without the approval of the Committee. Submissions are covered by parliamentary privilege but the unauthorised release of them is not.

Inquiries from hearing and speech impaired people should be directed to the Parliament House TTY number (02) 6277 7799. Adobe also provides tools for the blind and visually impaired to access PDF documents. These tools are available at: http://access.adobe.com/. If you require any special arrangements in order to enable you to participate in a committee inquiry, please contact the committee secretary.

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Environment, Communications and the Arts
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone:	+61 2 6277 3526
Fax:	+61 2 6277 5818
Email:	eca.sen@aph.gov.au