Did you hear what he said? Claire, Solar Citizens

Dear Neville —

Malcolm Turnbull was in the Prime Minister’s parliamentary chair for barely 48 hours when he made a statement that caused us some distinct alarm. In question time Wednesday our new PM said the proposed goal of 50% renewable energy was “one of the most reckless proposals the Labor Party has made”.

Here’s what we have learned about reckless behaviour over the past two years:

• The Abbott government was reckless from day one, moving to slash the Renewable Energy Target from 41,000 to 33,000 gigawatt hours which cost thousands of jobs and millions in investment.
• The Abbott government attacked the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, an agency that fosters innovation and industry development – it was protected through the courageous actions of cross bench Senators including Glenn Lazarus, Dio Wang and Ricky Muir.
• The Abbott government also relentlessly pursued the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, a body that invests in renewable energy projects and has delivered 100% profit back to the taxpayer!

With a new Prime Minister in charge, it’s the right time for a race to the top on renewables, not round after round of argy bargy between the two major parties. Will you share this image on Facebook to make sure people know what was said by our new Prime Minister in his first week on the job?

It’s a troubling signal from the Turnbull government so early in the piece. The goal of at least 50% renewable energy is something the vast majority of Australians support, because it means we’re making the sensible move to use that handy and plentiful natural resource – sunshine.

Our new Prime Minister has the opportunity to lift the public debate on renewables and embrace the sunny future we all want to see, so it’s up to us to show him that people everywhere are calling for a new dawn for solar. Share this image on Facebook now to show that you won’t let negative statements from our politicians go unchallenged.

Let’s not forget, this is our future were talking about. Australians everywhere want a strong solar future and all the benefits that entails: good jobs, investment and a better future for our children in a thriving economy. And, earlier this week, the PM was embracing these sentiments, saying: “The Australia of the future has to be a nation that is agile, that is innovative, that is creative.” We agree.

There’s no time to waste in this busy week of politics – let’s make sure our message shines!

For a strong solar Australia,

Claire, National Director

PS: Don’t have Facebook? Instead you can click here to send your personal message to Prime Minister Turnbull using our easy online tool.

PPS: We’ll continue campaigning until all our politicians Stand Up for Solar and Support policies that allow us all to use the plentiful clean, renewable resources we have at our disposal. Make your donation to Solar Citizens today and help us show people in the corridors of power that Australians everywhere want a solar future.