Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Milne, I have information in relation to the Green Loans Program. Can I say first that obviously the Green Loans Program is one of a range of programs across government which are aimed at improving household energy efficiency and household water efficiency. A number of those are in Mr Garrett’s portfolios, the most high profile of which is the Home Insulation Program, which is being rolled out as part of the government’s stimulus package and will achieve a significant reduction in energy use.

As part of this largest ever rollout of energy efficiency programs to Australian households the government has included its Green Loans Program. This provides sustainability assessments for an estimated 360,000 households free of charge and loans of up to $10,000 to an estimated 75,000 households through participating financial institutions, with no interest payments for four years. I am advised the program commenced with a national rollout as of 1 July 2009. Since the start of the program more than 17,300 householders have registered for an assessment through the website or the call centre, with 7,900 assessments completed already. I am advised that this includes 600 under the trial program. It is the case that this is an ambitious and unprecedented program. Its development has involved the building of key sustainability assessment tools and business support systems.