Energy Consumers Australia appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Support for Small Business and Charities and Other Measures) Bill 2023. We believe that the Government has an important role to play in supporting small businesses to electrify and save on their energy bills.

Our submission responds to Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of the Provisions. Both Schedules only apply after the equipment is installed, so it is likely that only businessowners who have already started this process will be able to take advantage of the schemes, given the short deadline of 30 June 2024. To ensure more small businesses are able to install energy efficient products and contribute to Australia’s net zero goals, we recommend extending the deadlines to at least 30 June 2025.

Further, as noted in our submission to the Senate Economics References Committee’s Inquiry into Residential Electrification, there is a need for a future inquiry to understand and support how small businesses will decarbonise. Small businesses need the policy certainty of a long-term plan, to ensure they can benefit from Australia’s journey to net zero.

Read our full submission here.