Business welcomes Budget boost for environmental sustainability

Published Wednesday, 14 June, 2017 at 09:26 AM

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef
The Honourable Steven Miles

The Palaszczuk Government will partner with the state's peak business group to give small and medium businesses tools to reduce their operating costs through energy, water and waste-saving activities.

Environment Minister Steven Miles said the free program couid see businesses cut their energy bills by a third. 

“Energy prices have risen in recent years, and while the Palaszczuk government has acted to stabilise them the next thing we can do to help businesses is to reduce their bills by reducing the energy they use. 

"We know from the success of ecoBiz over recent years that businesses really can save a lot.

“The SME owners I talk to want to reduce water and power use to save money and become more sustainable.

“Business tools, which can make a real difference to the business bottom-line, would also help SMEs save on energy so we can address climate change together.”

Mr Miles said the Government would work with CCIQ to refresh the ecoBiz program which has engaged with over 9,000 businesses in the past three years.

“This is an important partnership with CCIQ to give Queensland businesses a competitive advantage by making environmental and financial savings,” Mr Miles said.

“The refreshed partnership will develop a permanent online portal for Queensland businesses.

“The new-look ecoBiz program will align with the Government’s objectives to address climate change, energy costs and waste.

“Businesses across Queensland will be able to take advantage of modern self-assessment tools to identify actions that will reduce costs in their operation and be more sustainable.”

CEO of the CCIQ Stephen Tait welcomed the Budget announcement.

“Thousands of small and medium businesses have benefited from the previous ecoBiz program, and this revamped model will continue to deliver free support,” Mr Tait said.

“This important partnership with the Government will help small and medium businesses undertake assessments to determine which activities would best help achieve savings on energy, water and waste.

“The ecoBiz program is an exceptional example of government and industry working together to meet the needs of the business community.  

“We are committed to supporting businesses to better understand energy, water and waste costs and how to save money through sustainability initiatives.

“A partnership such as this shows the commitment of the Queensland Government to help alleviate pressure on businesses across the state.”

ENDS

Media contacts: Katharine Wright - 0422 580 342 / Alison Brown - 0477 377 622