ACT Budget: Investing in Climate Action and Protecting Canberra’s Unique Environment


Released 30/09/2021 - Joint media release

The ACT Government will invest an additional $63 million over four years to ensure that Canberra remains the national leader in responding to climate change and environmental protection.

The new investment will focus on emissions reductions and healthy habitats in our bushland, suburbs and waterways.

Canberrans can be proud of our achievements in reducing emissions and making the transition to more sustainable technologies in our lives.

We want this to continue as we aim for our zero-net emissions target by 2045.

Sustainable Household Scheme opens to all eligible households

The Government is opening the $150 million Sustainable Household Scheme to all eligible households and individuals in the ACT following the successful pilot program.

The Scheme offers zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 for eligible households to invest in energy efficiency upgrades, gas to electric appliance conversions and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It will soon be expanded to include the purchase of an electric vehicle. During the successful pilot program, 260 households have started the quote and loan process with more than $2 million of loans already approved and 51 products already installed in homes.

As the program expands, it will create and protect more local jobs as we grow our workforce to 250,000 jobs by 2025.

All eligible households can now register through the Everyday Climate Choices website.

Climate action package

This investment will support Canberrans to take climate action to support the Territory to achieve zero-net emission target. The package includes:

  • $15.3 million to reduce carbon emissions from the ACT Government Callam Offices in Woden.
  • $12.8 million over four years for the Emergency Service Agency’s Vehicle Replacement Program, which will include the addition of nine zero-emissions vehicles to the emergency services fleet.
  • Allocating the first $5 million of the $50 million Vulnerable Household Energy Support Scheme, helping low-income homeowners and public housing tenants cut their energy bills with subsidies to switch from fossil fuel gas to efficient electric appliances.
  • $5 million over four years for the Community Clubs Building Energy Efficiency Fund, supporting clubs to reduce their costs and their reliance on pokies by making energy efficiency improvements with rebates of up to $75,000.
  • $5 million to expand the Healthy Waterways program, to tackle water pollution that causes algal blooms by improving the management of green spaces and new developments.
  • $3.6 million over four years for environmental offset planning, implementation, monitoring, and research as part of governments land release program.
  • $3.1 million over four years to continue the Solar for Low Income Scheme, supporting low-income homeowners to install rooftop solar systems with subsidies of up to $2,500 to be managed through the Sustainable Household Scheme.
  • Funding of $3 million over four years to rapidly respond to biosecurity threats accelerated by climate change, through sustained intervention and management of invasive species that have been bolstered by a prolonged period of frequent rain;
  • $3.1 million to deliver environmental biodiversity offset commitments;
  • $2.6 million over four years to support the delivery the government’s climate change adaptation and resilience commitments under Canberra’s Living Infrastructure Plan: Cooling the City.
  • $2.5 million over four years to enhance ecosystem resilience and balance, ensuring biodiversity is improved and protected for the future.
  • $856,000 over four years to support climate action-related strategic communication activities.
  • $600,000 over four years to continue the Community Zero Emissions Grant Program, which supports community-led projects that help reach our emissions targets and increase our community’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.

These initiatives are part of the ACT Government’s commitment to climate action through the Parliamentary Agreement of the 10th Legislative Assembly.

Quotes attributable to Chief Minister and Minister for Climate Action, Andrew Barr:

“Our significant investment through the 2021-22 ACT Budget aims to reduce emissions across the public sector, support Canberra households and focus on protecting our environment against emerging threats.

“The sustainable household scheme will provide more Canberra households with the opportunity to share in the benefits of sustainable technologies to make their homes more efficient. It is a cornerstone program of our climate action agenda over the next four years.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Shane Rattenbury:

“Responding to the climate emergency remains one of the government’s highest priorities and this budget continues our commitment to reducing our emissions, building resilience and supporting Canberrans through a just transition.

“To help households cut energy costs and keep comfortable in extreme heat and cold, we’re investing in energy efficiency upgrades for public housing and low income households, and will continue to support low income home owners to install solar panels. We will continue to support community solutions to climate change through the Community Zero Emissions grants programs, which has delivered some great projects in previous rounds.

“We will also continue our efforts to improve water quality, by investing in measures to reduce algal blooms in our lakes. This includes funding for water quality infrastructure like wetlands and rain gardens, and for community education programs about how to keep our waterways healthy.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Planning and Land Management, Mick Gentleman:

“The ACT Government has a proud record of investing in the environment and climate action. This year’s budget builds on this through increased investment in protecting and expanding our nature reserves, while beginning the transition of emergency services vehicles towards no-emissions, supporting our plans for a zero-emissions government.

“Nine newzero-emissions vehicles will join our emergency services fleet as replacements for ones reaching the end of their reliable working lives, making us nation leaders.

“We are also adding two new nature reserves, Budjan Galindji in Franklin and Nadjung Mada in Kenny, helping conserve and enhance our grasslands and threatened species that call these areas home, while also putting in place visitor and reserve infrastructure to help the community connect with these spaces and protect them.

“Through these investments we continue making Canberra more sustainable, ensuring it is a great city to live and work.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti:

“Investing in the health of our land, water and native species is an investment in our own wellbeing. The ACT Government is providing more resourcing to help maintain and improve our environment through stronger policies plans and frameworks along with specialised staff to deliver on the ground.

“We are already seeing the impact of climate change on our region, and it is creating favourable conditions for invasive species and accelerating biosecurity threats, which is why we are providing more funding to prevent early incursions and eradicate invasive animals and weeds.”

Attributable to Brighte Founder and CEO Katherine McConnell:

After a successful pilot stage with significant interest, we’re excited about the Sustainable Household Scheme officially launching with new products on offer to help more ACT households on their sustainability journey. This program will not just power homes, but also empower small businesses in the solar industry to hit the ground running after lockdown.

Joint media release: Andrew Barr, MLA | Shane Rattenbury, MLA | Mick Gentleman, MLA | Rebecca Vassarotti, MLA

- Statement ends -

Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases


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