Blacktown City Council has installed a 50 kilowatt grid-connected solar electricity system at their Works Depot. The system, consisting of 276 photo-voltaic (PV) modules, is expected to feed an estimated 60 megawatt hours per year of electricity back into the grid, and save 70 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually. Blacktown Solar City is one of seven Solar…
Thirty four Australian inventions, including a drug to treat learning and memory loss, an additive to reduce carbon emissions from cement production and a greener hot water system were awarded Commercialisation Australia grants totalling $13m today. Commercialisation Australia helps innovative companies take their products to the market, creating opportunities for business and high-tech, high-wage jobs for Australians. As well…
The Federal Government released its climate change initiatives today with funding allocated in the 2010-11 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. The climate change initiatives include:
Australia’s Minister for Climate Change Greg Combet and New Zealand’s Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith met yesterday in Sydney and reaffirmed their commitment to working closely together on climate change. New Zealand has benefited from Australian expertise in designing features of its Emissions Trading Scheme while Australia will benefit from New Zealand’s experience…
The Government announced today that over $160 million in venture capital will be made available through four new Innovation Investment Funds (IIF). Carnegie Venture Capital, MRCF, Southern Cross Venture Partners and Australia Ventures will receive Government funding of $20 million each, which will be matched with private investor’s funds. These IIF funders will invest into new…
The Multi-Party Climate Change Committee met in Canberra today and had initial discussions on policy principles, the potential design and scope of the Climate Change Commission, the progress of international action to reduce emissions and what a carbon price is and how it interacts with the Australian economy and communities and the opportunities it provides….
The Re-tooling for Climate Change Program is closed to further applications. The Government announced today that following confirmation of 2010 Election commitments, the Re-tooling for Climate Change program will be closed to new applications. Existing grantees in the program will not be affected.
Carbon Farming Initiatives Released The Labor Government today announced a carbon offsets scheme that will provide new economic opportunities for farmers, forest growers and landholders and help the environment by reducing carbon pollution. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, said the government was releasing draft legislation and methodology guidelines for the scheme. “While there…
The long awaited and advertised R&D Tax Credit Scheme was planned to be operational from 1 July 2011. Given the delays in the passage of this legislation through the Parliament the introduction date will most likely be postponed until 1 July 2012. The legislative process for the Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2010 is progressing slowly….
The recent decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in HZXD v Innovation Australia [2010] AATA 879 highlights the importance of good record keeping for companies claiming benefits under the R&D Tax Concession Program. If you couple this with AusIndustry’s 2011 scheduled increase in compliance activities then good record keeping is money in your pocket. From 2011 Ausindustry plan to review 15%…
End of content
End of content
