The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will be abolished as part of the government’s new budget cuts.
The agency was created under Australia’s previous government with the aim of funding renewable energy projects and research. Despite Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s previous support for ARENA when he was opposition leader, and his promise to retain the agency, his government has to decided to abandon its support, leaving Australia’s renewable energy future in doubt.
Leaders in the industry have expressed outrage at the government’s move. This outrage is echoed by Greens leader Christine Milne, who pointed out that the government’s decision coincides with the government’s neglect of its planned $500 million “Million Solar Roofs” project which was to bring PV panels to a million low income homes.
The opposition to the budget cuts was further expressed by Labor climate change spokesman, Mark Butler, who stated they take the government’s “assault on the environment and climate to a new level [showing] a disdain for science and research that threatens decades of investment and innovation”.
