Allegra Spender called out by Liberals over climate change grants

Wentworth candidate Allegra Spender has shrugged off accusations of hypocrisy for cashing in on Coalition green measures.

Independent Wentworth candidate Allegra Spender has been accused of “hypocrisy” for attacking the Morrison government’s climate credentials, while cashing in on ­Coalition green measures to achieve her renewable goals.

Financial reports for the Sydney Renewable Power Company, which was chaired by Ms Spender from 2013, showing the company’s revenue was derived from federal and state Coalition government green grants, carbon credit sales and electricity purchases, have been criticised by federal Liberals as a “breathtaking” double standard.

But the Climate 200-backed “teal” challenger to Liberal MP Dave Sharma shrugged off the accusation from the federal ranks of the Coalition, instead heaping praise on their NSW state counterparts for actually doing “well” to support local businesses pursuing net zero.

Ms Spender’s Sydney Renewable Power Company made $38,500 in 2018-19 and $31,590 in 2017-18 – between 14 to 18 per cent of total revenue – from selling Large Scale Generation Certificates provided by the federal Coalition government.

The company also initially relied on NSW government grant funding, and then later earned income from the sale of electricity to the state.

Wentworth candidate Allegra Spender. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

Posters of Wentworth Independent candidate Allegra Spender on poles on Old South Head Road in Rose Bay. Picture: Damian Shaw

Liberal NSW Senator Andrew Bragg condemned Ms Spender’s “hypocrisy” as “disappointing but not surprising” given ­“integrity issues” had “dominated Climate 200’s efforts throughout this campaign”.  

“Australia has become a world leader in renewable ­energy under the Coalition,” he said.

“This has been totally ignored by the candidate despite the fact companies in which she is associated have benefited from renewable energy grants and incentives.”

But Ms Spender said while the NSW government had supported businesses “well on the path to net zero,” the federal government had done “nowhere near enough”.

“Instead of trying to take credit for a community solar panel program in which they, the state government, the community, and business all played a role, the federal government should instead focus on preparing the country for a new economy powered by clean energy,” she said.

Ms Spender said she was “incredibly proud” of what her company achieved in installing solar panels on the International Convention Centre.

Businessman Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 campaign organisation is donating $10m to aid the campaigns of a number of independent candidates across Australia, including Ms Spender.