The Australian Greens today welcomed the Rudd government's acknowledgement of the extent of the mismanagement of the Green Loans scheme and again offered to work with the government towards an effective solution including providing compensation and upgraded training at government expense.
"The Green Loans scheme was an excellent project marred by extraordinary mismanagement, and it is critical that it is fixed properly," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.
"Minister Wong's final detailed acknowledgement of the scheme's flaws today is welcome, although I am keen to draw her attention to several other issues that need to be addressed.
"The Greens have been working closely with home sustainability assessors, householders and others to get to the bottom of the Green Loans scheme debacle and we are in an ideal position to help the Minister fix the scheme.
"Home assessors around the country who invested in starting small businesses will be wanting the Minister specifically to address the question of how they are to make a living wage if they are limited to only 5 assessments a week - an issue the Minister conspicuously left off her list.
"I do hope, too, that the Minister will consider reimbursing those assessors who want to cut their losses and get out.
"There is also very good reason to re-open the question of whether loans should be available under the scheme.
"I am disappointed that Minister Wong's statement today did not acknowledge the human tragedy of this debacle, with a trail across the country of people and small businesses struggling to make ends meet.
"It is also a great tragedy that the gross mismanagement of this scheme and the insulation roll-out has undermined public confidence in climate action and the transformation to a zero carbon economy.
"I hope that Minister Wong's new focus on the scheme can help those people and small businesses across Australia left in the lurch, and bring back public confidence in climate action.
"I again offer to work with Minister Wong to reach the best possible outcome and fix this important and positive program."
