The Biogas facility at privately owned Southern Meats received a huge $2.1 million in funding from ARENA, an agency of the Australian federal government (Goulburn Post, April 13). On the other hand, Community Energy for Goulburn (CE4G), a large group of local people driven by the need for action on renewables, is on the cusp of building Goulburn's very own (and the country's largest) community owned solar farm, but it has received no support from the federal government. None.
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While the current federal government continues to pour billions of dollars of subsidies into the fossil fuel industry, and the odd million into private company renewable projects, it's crusted-on right wingers (The Monash Group) even want to build more coal powered power stations. Yes, right now, fossil fuel generated electricity is (unfortunately) still required, but there needs to be a rapid planned transition from fossil to renewable power. By definition, fossil fuel is polluting and finite; whereas renewable sources are, again by definition, non-polluting and infinite.
Elsewhere in the world governments support community projects. In the UK investors in community energy projects receive tax deductions on their investment... because the UK government knows renewable energy is essential, and wants to see communities involved.
I believe the residents of Goulburn would like to hear Angus Taylor's answers to: ‘Why is the LNP government so focussed on supporting fossil fuel driven electricity at the expense of renewables?’ and ‘Why, when it supports large privately owned companies to benefit and profit from government largesse, has it offered no support whatsoever to community renewable projects?’
