To: The Honourable David Janetzki MP Treasurer and Minister for Energy and Minister for Home Ownership
Queenslanders shouldn’t miss out on solar because they live in an apartment rather than a house.
Dear GetUp! team,
I am writing to ask GetUp! to consider supporting a campaign to make solar power more accessible to people living in apartments, units and other multi-dwelling buildings across Queensland.
Queenslanders shouldn’t miss out on solar simply because they live in an apartment rather than a house.
Queensland enjoys abundant sunshine, and rooftop solar has helped many households reduce their electricity bills. Yet for people living in apartments, accessing solar is far more complicated. Even when a building has a suitable roof, the cost of installation, body corporate arrangements and the challenge of distributing the benefits can make solar difficult to achieve.
This is not simply a technical problem. It is an issue of fairness, affordability and access to clean energy.
People who rent or own apartments face the same cost-of-living pressures as other Queenslanders. They should have a fair opportunity to benefit from renewable energy, rather than being excluded because they share a roof with their neighbours.
What we are asking for
We want the Queensland and Australian Governments to work together to:
- Establish a dedicated solar grant program for Queensland apartments, helping body corporates and building owners meet the upfront costs of shared rooftop solar.
- Provide practical assistance with feasibility studies, technical advice and the complex decision-making involved in multi-owner buildings.
- Make federal funding accessible to Queensland apartment communities, including through the expansion of existing programs where necessary.
- Develop a clear plan and timeline so apartment residents know when and how they can access support.
- Ensure the benefits reach residents, including opportunities to reduce common-area electricity costs and, where technically and financially feasible, household electricity costs.
Imagine what we could achieve together
Imagine apartment buildings across Brisbane and regional Queensland generating clean electricity from their rooftops. Imagine body corporates being able to investigate solar without facing prohibitive upfront costs, and residents having a practical way to benefit from Queensland's sunshine.
This is an opportunity to reduce energy costs, increase renewable energy generation and ensure that the transition to clean energy includes people who live in higher-density housing.
Will GetUp! help make this happen?
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how GetUp! could help build a campaign that brings this issue to public attention, gathers support from Queensland apartment residents and calls on both governments to take action.
A campaign could begin by asking Queenslanders to sign a petition, share their experiences of being unable to access solar, and contact their state and federal representatives. With enough community support, we could press for a funded, practical solution rather than allowing this gap to continue.
Solar power should be an option for every Queensland community, not just those who live in detached houses.
I hope GetUp! will consider helping us make this a reality.
Why is this important?
Why I am asking GetUp! to get involved
Other Australian jurisdictions have recognised the need to help people living in apartments overcome these barriers. For example, NSW has introduced a dedicated Solar for Apartment Residents grant program, supported by Australian Government funding.
Queensland needs a clear, accessible pathway for existing multi-dwelling buildings to install shared solar systems and make the benefits available to residents.
I believe GetUp! could help bring together apartment owners, renters, body corporates, community groups and clean-energy advocates to call for practical action from both levels of government.
