Solar Our Schools calls for Budget support

AUSTRALIAN Parents for Climate Action (AP4CA) has repeated its calls for the federal government to prioritise funding for solar panels on every school and early childhood education centre in Australia.

The group’s submission to the coming Federal Budget follows its 11,000-signature petition calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to set up the Solar Our Schools program.

Hundreds of parents from the Geelong region have signed in support of Solar Our Schools – which created a huge piece of sand artwork in Ocean Grove in September – and AP4CA national director and Ocean Grove parent Suzie Brown is helping to co-ordinate efforts locally and across Australia.

“If every school in Australia had the money and ability to install enough solar and storage to be fully renewables-powered, they would save thousands of dollars that could be put towards teachers and better educational resources,” she said.

“Powering thousands of schools with solar would also reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and create thousands of solar jobs in communities across Australia.”

She said Solar Our Schools was a sensible and shovel-ready policy that benefited children and parents, workers, and teachers in a predominantly female profession.

“It’s a chance to fix oversights of the previous budget which shunned renewable energy and support for women in favour of investment in male-dominated industries and tax cuts that favour men, and investment in coal and gas,” Ms Brown said.

“Regardless of political affiliations, there is everything to gain by supporting this campaign and nothing to lose.”

Deanna Hayes, a nurse and AP4CA member, said climate change was the biggest threat to the health and wellbeing of children today, and the biggest threat to their future.

“Thousands of Australian parents and teachers know that scaling up solar use in schools will have benefits inside the classroom, and beyond,” Ms Hayes said.

“But many schools need help to overcome funding and regulatory challenges blocking their access to solar energy.

“If this federal government cares about children’s well-being, about improving our education system, helping women in the workforce and taking meaningful action on climate change, then supporting Solar Our Schools is a no-brainer.”