Shadow Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Chris Hartcher today called on the NSW Government to explain how much local commercial real estate owners would have to pay under Peter Garrett’s nationalised green building program.

After announcing a take-over of Sydney City planning and criticizing the Rees Government for its hopeless infrastructure funding proposals, the Federal Government yesterday announced the details of its Federal Government run efficient building plan.

The Federal Department’s website shows NSW raised no objections to the new tax, confirming that, “state and territory government energy ministers approved the parameters of the new disclosure scheme”.

“Under the scheme, owners of buildings more than 2000m² will have to have their buildings assessed for energy efficiency when they are leased or sold.

“The National Partnership Agreement on Energy Efficiency calls for a:

“…nationally consistent regulatory framework for energy efficiency of commercial and residential buildings, based on consistent performance standards, which recognise climatic differences…”

“But the details of the scheme outlined by Garrett today suggest that if the buildings don’t meet mandated standards, the owners will receive a fine,” Mr Hartcher said.

“Garrett has refused to detail how much the scheme will cost businesses.

“Buildings have to be made more energy efficient – everyone accepts that – but this is a long way from the conciliatory and helpful approach outlined by COAG when it met to discuss these plans in July this year.

“Instead of highlighting buildings which aren’t energy efficient and working with the owners to fix the problems, the Federal Government, with the approval of the NSW Government, is trying to introduce a tax on commercial property.

“Business are right to be concerned about the retrospectivity of this scheme – buildings that are 40 to 50 years old were never designed with energy efficiency in mind,” Mr Hartcher said.

“They deserve assistance, advice and support, not another Labor tax on business.

“Hopefully the Labor Party will eventually discover that there are better ways of urging change than simply imposing new taxes,” Mr Hartcher said.