Members are advised that the Home Insulation Program has been discontinued with immediate effect.

Please fnd below a link to a media release regarding the cancellation of the home ceiling insulation program with immediate effect announced by Miniuster Garrett this afternoon.

http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2010/pubs/mr20100219.pdf

The relevant extract is re-produced from the media release:

A new household Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme will assist households save money on power

bills and reduce their carbon emissions.

This new Scheme will replace the Home Insulation Program and the Solar Hot Water Rebate

Program both of which have been discontinued as of close of business today.

The Government’s focus is on the safety of households and tradespeople who will both benefit

from the operation of this new scheme.

Under the household Renewable Energy Bonus scheme households will be able to receive a

rebate for the installation of ceiling insulation or a solar hot water system or a heat pump.

$1000 rebates will be available for ceiling installation and solar hot water systems and $600

rebates for heat pumps systems.

The new rebate for solar hot water systems and heat pumps will be available for systems installed

after today.

This scheme will institute several key changes to the delivery of ceiling insulation including:

· Householders – rather than installers - will claim the $1000 rebate directly through the

Medicare system.

· Introducing a new registration scheme requiring all installers to reregister, pay a cash bond,

show evidence of meeting the training and skills requirements and provide certified quality

assurance and occupational health and safety plans.

· Introducing a strengthened compliance regime in concert with State and Territory

occupational health and safety and fair trading authorities.

It is intended that the insulation component of the Renewable Energy Bonus scheme will come

into operation by 1 June.

The Government’s objective remains to see insulation installed in up to 1.9 million homes,

including those already installed under the discontinued Home Insulation Program, to be