Marshall’s bungled solar overhaul putting jobs at risk

The Marshall Liberal Government’s bungled rollout of sweeping changes to home solar panel laws is putting South Australian jobs at risk, with the industry facing a sudden “shut down” this week.

The changes to solar panel laws come into force this Saturday, December 18.

The solar panel industry has told the Opposition the changes mean existing stock will no longer be compliant with new laws.

Adelaide-based managing director of solar panel retailer Energy Buster Matthew Curnow says:
“We cannot plan installs after this date (Dec 18) and stock we already have will no longer be compliant.

Mr Curnow says it will take months to order and receive compliant stock and in the meantime, he faces the prospect of employees losing their jobs due to a lack of work.

The Smart Energy Council says the industry faces a “shut down” from next week, with thousands of jobs at risk.

The industry is calling for a deferral on the start date to July 1, 2022, so the industry has time to ensure it can comply with the new laws without resorting to a shut down.

Quotes attributable to SA Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas

It is simply unacceptable to have such a significant industry effectively shut down, leaving hundreds, possibly thousands of jobs at risk.

The Marshall Liberal Government must intervene and defer the start date of these changes to solar panel laws.

South Australia has been a national leader with our take up of home solar– this industry is essential to our clean energy future and also a strong driver of jobs.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Energy Tom Koutsantonis

As far back as August 2020, the industry was warning the Marshall Liberal Government changes to solar panel laws were being rushed, creating confusion and will bring the sector to a standstill with significant job losses.

The Marshall Liberal Government ignored these cries for help and now we face an imminent shut down of an entire industry.

This is a potential disaster which must be averted.