A collection of social service, faith and environmental groups have welcomed the launch of the Queensland Government's Supercharged Solar for Renters scheme.
The Power Together coalition, including the Queensland Conservation Council, Parents for Climate and Energetic Communities, have long called on the Queensland Government to help all Queenslanders, particularly renters and social housing tenants, access affordable solar energy to reduce their power bills and emissions.
This comes as recently released research from Monash University found that solar systems increase Brisbane property values by an average of $30,000.
According to the groups, the Crisafulli Government now needs to expand support to assist vulnerable Queenslanders access other clean technology, like energy efficient upgrades and appliances, as an equitable measure to deal with the linked cost of living and climate crises.
Queensland Conservation Council campaigner Stephanie Gray says:
"Our summers are getting hotter, and that can have devastating health outcomes for the third of Queenslanders who rent or live in social housing, especially if their homes are inefficient and they can't afford to run air conditioning.
"A recent Energy Consumers Australia survey found that approximately 70 per cent of renters avoid heating and cooling their homes, with 40 per cent saying they can't keep their homes comfortable without using a lot of energy.
"As we transition our energy system it's vital that all Queenslanders are able to access the benefits of affordable solar energy, particularly so everyone can afford to keep their homes within a safe temperate range.
"Policies like the Supercharged Solar for Renters scheme are good news for power bills and reducing pollution, and vitally, they empower tenants to keep their homes cool in unhealthy conditions."
Parents for Climate CEO Nic Seton says: "Families are being hit on both sides with rising power bills and rising temperatures, and renters have had the least control over either. Queensland's Supercharged Solar for Renters scheme is an important step that finally gives renting families a fair chance to benefit from clean, affordable solar.
"As parents, we see how essential it is that every child, no matter their postcode or housing type, can grow up in a safe home and a safe climate. We encourage the government to continue investment in solutions that bring those benefits to the families doing it toughest."
Energetic Communities Association Policy Advocate Luke Reade says:
"The Supercharged Solar for Renters scheme is a great opportunity to bring down home energy costs for a small number of renters and needs to be expanded.
"Renters make up over a third of Queensland households, are repeatedly left out, and often live in the worst quality homes. With heat killing more Australians than other extreme weather events and Queensland's storms and heatwaves getting worse, this needs to change.
We also need insulation, efficient cooling, and other upgrades that actually make rental homes safe, affordable and disaster-ready.
Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas:
"A rebate of $3,500 will encourage landlords to install solar panels on their rental properties and the eligibility criteria applying to tenanted properties of less than $1000/week means many rental properties could benefit.
"Better targeting towards lower income households together with energy efficiency upgrades (like blinds, draft controls and appliances like heat pumps) would see people who can least afford high energy bills benefit even more.
"Solar Citizens has started a national conversation on how to unlock solar for renters to generate solutions across the country for 1 in 3 Australians who rent."
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