The Federal Government will provide $1.4 billion over five years to assist small businesses and community groups with addressing climate change through a Climate Change Action Fund.
The money will be for the purchase of energy efficient equipment, with some funds available as grants for developing long-term energy efficiency plans.
Minister for Climate Change, Penny Wong, says that the fund will help smaller operators work through the introduction of an emissions trading scheme: “This is about the Government delivering on its commitment to ensure that the monies raised from the scheme are invested back into Australian businesses.”
“This is a very substantial investment in small businesses and also community organisations to enable them to move to a low-pollution future.”
