Australia continues push for tax breaks for green buildings

By eGov Innovation Editors | Apr 23, 2011

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CANBERRA -- Ahead of Earth Day celebrations, the Australian government announced on Thursday it will conduct further consultations on tax breaks for green buildings program currently being developed to provide incentives for businesses that support the government's energy efficiency drive.

In a media release, Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten said the government has agreed to extend the time for consultation to consider proposals on the most effective way to implement the program, which will take effect on July 1, 2012.

"This will support ongoing discussions with industry leaders to consider how we can maximize the benefits of the program, within the current funding envelope," Shorten said, referring to the government incentive to provide $1 billion over eight years to the property sector to improve energy efficiency.

Some of the issues raised include whether to consider the benefit as a bonus scheme or a refundable tax credit and whether the program would support re-fits for buildings that are already rated above 2 stars on the NABERS rating system.
 
"The government is committed to getting the design of this $1 billion scheme right and we take the views of industry very seriously," the Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Mark Dreyfus said.