Wednesday, 29 November 2023

 Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:54): (603) My question is for the Minister for Energy and Resources. I was recently contacted by a constituent, David, who had been rejected from the Victorian government’s solar homes battery loan financing program. The credit assessment that they calculated determined that David could not afford to pay back the loan, but it was clear in his original application that he actually could do so. After many weeks, countless hours and considerable stress and follow-up, David has now received a loan, but he has not been provided with a reason why he was initially rejected from the scheme. We are in a climate emergency, and access to these schemes should be clear. Applications should be reviewed on merit, and the assessments should be accurate and fair. Minister, can you tell me how many of my constituents have been rejected from accessing the solar loan battery scheme in the past year due to a credit assessment process that does not actually seem fit for purpose?