MEDIA RELEASE TUESDAY 14 APRIL 20205
KATE HOOK: MAKING SOLAR POWER AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE - A PERMANENT COST OF LIVING SOLUTION
While Labor’s 30% discount on home batteries sounds promising, Independent candidate for Calare, Kate Hook, says there’s a smarter way to help ALL Australians with energy costs—by investing in long-term solar and battery solutions that empower households and target support where it’s actually needed.
“Labor’s latest promise is a step in the right direction, but it avoids any attempt to fix the real structural problem: upfront cost,” Kate said. “It risks helping only those who can already afford the other 70% of the cost of a battery, while leaving behind the households who need support the most - those with lower incomes.”
Labor’s battery scheme is based on rebates of up to $4,000, but for many households already struggling with rising costs, even a discounted $8,000 battery remains out of reach. Kate says her plan—using income-based loans that are only repaid when a household is earning enough—goes further and is fairer.
“Handouts might help for a few months, but they blatantly ignore the real problem: people’s lack of money to afford the upfront costs that can ultimately make a difference long term,” Kate said. “Throwing money at problems isn’t always the answer but typical of the two parties and their way of doing things. You need a solution that actually fixes the problem first, then find the funding to roll it out.”
Her policy is backed by Australian National University (ANU) research showing that Income Contingent Loans (ICLs)—like HECS for higher education—could be used to fund rooftop solar and battery systems for hundreds of thousands of homes, with little or no cost to the federal budget. ANU’s modelling shows that almost all loans will be repaid. Kate has worked through the concept with Professor Bruce Chapman AO, who designed HECS in 1989 and who presented the idea at Beers and Big Ideas, a special event hosted by RocKwiz’s Julia Zemiro at Hotel Canobolas in Orange on Friday night.
Kate’s approach offers a cycle of savings: on bills, emissions and public spending. Repayments only kick in once people can afford it, no one is left behind. The scheme can also be applied for landlords to help reduce bills for renters, and for small business owners as well.
“Imagine the instant cost of living relief of not having to stress to find the cash every quarter for an electricity bill,” Kate said. “That’s money that could go back into the household—for groceries, clothing and more. For small businesses it can really help them manage their overheads.”
“We can do better than yet another band-aid approach. Let’s empower households and small businesses with the tools to create real change, to produce and store their own cleaner energy, lower their bills, and be part of the climate solution.”
“We’ve got the technology. We’ve got the sunshine. We’ve got the economic model, proven with HECS. What we need is the political will to deliver smart, fair solutions—so that clean, cheap energy is something everyone can access, not just those with financial privilege.”
Kate Hook has committed to taking this policy to Canberra if elected.
“People are right to ask—why aren’t we leveraging public money to build long-term solutions?” Kate said. “The major parties are still stuck in three-year election cycles. I want to focus on what will actually make a difference for families now and in 10 years' time.”
Beers & Big Ideas presented three big ideas from professionals in their fields, as well as ideas from community members that they’ve dreamt up to improve Calare, the regions and life in Australia.
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