Concerns and confusion over green rebates continue

The Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot has repeated her calls for eligible nursing home and hostel operators to apply for solar hot water and insulation rebates under the Australian Government’s Energy Efficient Homes package.

However, aged care providers and the Federal Opposition are concerned that the Commonwealth Government’s insulation and solar hot water rebates will be of little benefit to providers. It is still unclear if facilities will be able to claim the funding on a per-resident basis.

Under the Energy Efficient Homes package, the Solar Hot Water Rebate has been increased from $1,000 to $1,600, with the previous means test removed, and the rebate for landlords to insulate rental properties has been increased from $500 to $1,000. Insulation is typically the most cost effective way to improve a home’s energy efficiency. Although all newly-built homes must be insulated, many older homes – up to 40% of Australia’s housing stock – remain un-insulated.

“I urge nursing home operators who have older buildings to use this opportunity to improve their energy efficiency. Insulation will increase comfort for residents and save nursing home operators money, as well as helping tackle climate change,” Mrs Elliot said last week.

The Opposition’s Parliamentary Secretary for Health Administration, Mathias Cormann said the Government had to clarify its position.

“I think the Government is running by the seat of their pants on this and making it up as they go along,” he said in Australian Ageing Agenda.

“There are some basic questions that haven’t been answered, such as how the funding will be distributed.”

A spokesperson for the Minister for Ageing said that the Government had not yet completed the process for eligible nursing homes under the scheme.

“However, the rebate will not be given to the 200,000 individuals currently staying in nursing homes and hostels,” the spokesperson said.

The Environment Department’s hotline for the rebate scheme which was listed in Mrs Elliot’s original press release was unable to provide any further clarification.

In light of the ongoing confusion, Aged Care Association Australia chief executive officer (CEO), Rod Young, has warned that the $1,600 and $1,000 payments would not provide enough incentive for residential aged care operators to invest in energy saving measures.

“At the end of the day, it looks like the scheme is of such little value that it is only marginally better than being valueless,” he said.

“We will certainly be asking the Departments of Ministers Wong and Garrett to clarify the guidelines because at this stage it appears that they are discriminating against multi-household dwellings.”

The CEO of Aged and Community Services Australia, Greg Mundy, said that the Government must carefully consider the needs of older Australians.

“Older people who live in residential care and their families would be very disappointed if their inclusion in the insulation and solar rebate scheme turns out to be tokenistic.”

The rebate scheme is due to commence on 1 July.  The Minister has said that guidelines and how to apply for the rebates are available by calling 1800 808 571 or at http://www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency/