{"id":4988,"date":"2015-09-01T14:01:41","date_gmt":"2015-09-01T03:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=4988"},"modified":"2017-10-25T09:32:53","modified_gmt":"2017-10-24T23:02:53","slug":"will-the-solar-councils-campaign-in-canning-help-bring-down-a-prime-minister","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/will-the-solar-councils-campaign-in-canning-help-bring-down-a-prime-minister\/","title":{"rendered":"Will the Solar Council\u2019s campaign in Canning help bring down a prime minister?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"abbott<\/a>

Will Abbott’s war on solar hurt his party’s prospects in Canning?<\/p><\/div>\n

The heat is really on in Western Australia with the entry of solar energy in the Canning by election campaign. The seat which was recently vacated following the untimely death of then sitting member Don Randall, has become a focus for those looking for an indication of the electorate’s opinion on the government’s performance.<\/p>\n

The previous incumbent was a popular representative and enjoyed a healthy margin in the opinion polls. However this has been whittled away in recent times due to the federal government\u2019s incompetence, intransigence or bad luck, depending on your political point of view.<\/p>\n

So much so that the Canning by election, scheduled for September 19, is now seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Abbott\u2019s leadership. Insiders state that other contenders (Turnbull, Morrison, Bishop) are already circling, crunching the numbers should the accident-prone and anti renewables prime minister lose the seat.<\/p>\n

The Australian Solar Council<\/a>\u2019s entry into the campaign through letterboxing, advertising and the organising of information forums is therefore regarded as critical. This as the government\u2019s policies directly affect both those in the electorate who currently have solar power as well as those who are looking at solar energy to offset their skyrocketing electricity bills. With 50 percent of homes already having solar in the seat of Canning \u2014 and the vote on a knife edge according to the latest opinion polls \u2014 the Coalition is alarmed that the introduction of solar energy in the Canning by election may prove to be decisive.<\/p>\n

Ostensibly apolitical — their recently distributed flyer saying they would support \u201cany party\u201d with a decent solar energy policy — the real target is the prime minister and his government\u2019s \u201cwar on renewables\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstalling solar helps Western Australians cut a typical power bill by up to 65%,\u201d said the Council\u2019s election flyer. \u201cThe federal government is targeting solar by slashing the renewable energy target. We will support any political party with a good solar policy.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A simple message and one likely to resonate with voters and aimed at the Coalition whose policies on solar energy have earned it the reputation of one of the most anti-renewable energy governments ever to hold office in Australia.<\/p>\n

However the benefits of such an campaign for solar energy in the Canning by election are more than just electioneering. The campaign will help:<\/p>\n