Thursday, 6 February 2025

Southern Metropolitan Region

Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (12:53): (1350) My question is for the Minister for Climate Action. How can my constituents in Southern Metro who live in apartments get support to install solar panels? If you travel around many of the suburbs in Southern Metro Melbourne there are a lot of apartments. In the 1970s there was an apartment building boom, with a lot of three- or four-storey apartment buildings, usually made out of brick. Many of them have not been able to access support to install solar panels under previous programs. That changed thanks to the Labor government. The new Solar for Apartments program gives apartment blocks of up to eight storeys the ability to get rebates of up to $2800 per apartment or $140,000 per property to install solar panels. All the residents need to do is get together with their owners corporation and make an application. Applications under round 2 of the Solar for Apartments program close on 28 February. I urge all apartment dwellers, whether they are owners or renters, to investigate the program and benefit from solar savings.