"At this rate, it will take Australia 267 years to make the kind of shift to solar that California has planned for 10 years - a million solar roofs by 2017."

- Senator Christine Milne (The Greens), 8.5.07

Senator Milne is referring to the extensions in the solar panel rebate program, or PVRP - Photo Voltaic Rebate Program announced in the 2007-08 Federal Budget. Extensions worth $150 million - that's $7 per capita. Seven dollars.

Senator Milne's press release in full (not on the web as I write this):

Painfully slow crawl to the solar future

Canberra, Tuesday May 8, 2007 Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today condemned Treasurer Costello for a solar rebate program that would take 267 years to achieve what California's Governor Schwarzenegger plans to do in 10 years.

Senator Milne said "The rooftop solar rebate program is an important government program to help us shift from centralised polluting coal power to clean energy power stations on every Australian roof. But this program still has nowhere near the funding it needs to make a real difference.

"At this rate, it will take Australia 267 years to make the kind of shift to solar that California has planned for 10 years - a million solar roofs by 2017."

At a conservative estimate, this program could drive the installation of 3750 solar roofs each year. That figure assumes no spending on training and accreditation of installers, and allocation of the total amount to homes rather than schools.

It would take 267 years to reach 1 million homes, and some 1500 years to help fund panels for each of the 5.8 million stand-alone homes in Australia.

Senator Milne said "A serious push towards solar power would learn the obvious lessons from Europe, where the solar revolution is well underway. The Europeans have taken a world leadership position with serious policy structures like feed-in laws, to guarantee market access at guaranteed prices.

"In California, Governor Schwarzenegger plans to meet his million solar roofs target through similar policy mechanisms.

"This Costello ruse has everything to do with public relations and nothing to do with serious emissions reductions."

A full list of nineteen Government press releases on environmental budget initiatives can be found here on Malcolm Turnbull's ministerial website.

Senator Milne issued this statement on the Greens' overall response to the environmental aspects of the Federal Budget:

Costello wilfully negligent on climate change

Canberra, Tuesday May 8, 2007 Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said Treasurer Costello's 12th budget demonstrated that he is negligent and reckless when it comes to climate change.

Senator Milne said "Peter Costello talked tonight of 'the emergence of climate change' over the next decade. Clearly he has no understanding that climate change is already biting Australia and the world, and has been well understood for many years.

"Tonight Mr Costello allocated not one new cent to the development of clean energy technologies. Not even the Government's favoured solutions - so-called 'clean coal' and nuclear power - scored a Guernsey.

"Has the Government finally seen the light that these are not 21st century responses to this massive challenge?

"Surely the absence of any such program makes it clear that the government's nuclear plans are no more than a wedge against the ALP. If they were serious about setting up a nuclear power industry in Australia, the Government would be moving to fund that shift.

"There is no change to the absurd situation that massive subsidies to the fossil fuel industry swamp the few token efforts that seek to create the impression of action on climate change.

"$22.3 billion to Auslink, the vast bulk of which is set for roads, makes a mockery of the $60 million for alternative fuels which Mr Turnbull reckons will reduce Australia's dependence on oil imports. Until we see structural change, with support of public transport and removal of perverse GST and FBT incentives for private car travel, Australia's greenhouse emissions from transport will continue to balloon, and our vulnerability to oil depletion will be further entrenched.

"With no targets, nothing serious for energy efficiency and crumbs for renewable energy, the fundamentals of a climate change strategy are still not in place. The patience of Australians must now surely be at an end."

Further reaction now online to the environmental spending from:

• the Australian Conservation Foundation ("Federal Budget 2007: no significant cut in emissions")
• Greenpeace, ("...have they done enough to stave off Australia’s greatest threat? Not even close.")
• The Climate Institute ("Budget 2007: Small steps, greenhouse plan still due.")

Information on California's solar energy program at GoSolarCalifornia.ca.gov.