Green Loans Program Assessor

Life After The Green Loans Program Closure

2011-02-28T11:04:00.001+11:00

What are you planning to do, after the closure of the Green Loans Program? Please make your vote count and copy this shortened link of this blogpost http://bit.ly/f0KgJ2 to as many assessors as possible.

Leave your comments also on this blog post here at GLP Assessor.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

RIP : End Of Days For The Green Loans Program

2011-02-28T10:27:00.000+11:00

RIP - GLP Assessors

Today the 28th of February 2011, is the last day of the Labor Government's failed initiative Green Loans Program.

No doubt Peter Garrett will be sighing relief, as he can finally wash his hands of the whole debacle!

A Green program, where the Government & ABSA could not decide between themselves who was really responsible for over training on the numbers of assessors. Where the assessor was initially told 1000 assessors would be trained, only to see tsurnami of ABSA training before Christmas 2009! Creating a 10000 assessor overload. Nothing more than a grab for cash, by fat cat trainers! In some cases these same trainners being ABSA board directors! With only 4400 of these assessors only being offered contracts!

Where a simple feedback loop involving both parties, would have stopped ABSA, the accreditation body for assessors, from over-training in numbers. Very easy, but for some reason too hard for both parties to get it right!

Was there a conflict of interest from the start where you have a board of trainers fattening their pockets? As assessors, we now know there was, as the stink was in all areas!

Some of us no doubt will be glad to wash our hands of working with the Government, with all it's failings that have been affecting our daily lives. Some us will be questioning whether during this whole debacle, ABSA has really stuck up for it's membership? To this day I question still whether I would back the bet that ABSA can holding itself high with a strong backbone, on my behalf! Making me feel as if it has done it's best, not whether it has only done the minimum? Personally I know what I feel of both parties. Both I say are to blame with a big conflict of interest within ABSA, where it is the only representative body for the assessor!

Enough is enough! I would like to wish all those assessors the best for their futures, whether in the Green world or not. I am aware many of you will steer clear of supposed green initiatives, due to this debacle costing you dearly!

This blog will be left live, for us all to see how not to create a Green initiative that is:

Badly designed.
Badly managed.
Open to fraud.
Has conflicts of interest.
Costing Aussie workers dearly

Good luck with whatever you do, from here on.

RIP GLP!

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Loans Assessors Action Group : CLAAG

2011-02-28T09:54:00.000+11:00

Maximise The Outcome - Join CLAAG

Are you a member of the Green Loans Assessors Action Group. If you did the Green Loans Program training you should be!

As we're all seeking compensation from the Government in charge at the time, of this failed Green incentive. An career we were told! Where many assessors were left out of pocket from day one, due to departmental mismanagement!

All assessors need to join this group, as you will have been shafted by one of the following:

Never received a contract after forking out thousands on training.
Not being able to book appointments due to call centre overload.
Limited to only five appointments a week, after Peter Garrett's department's short comings.

We all need to join together as a collective, to maximise the possibilities of a positive outcome.

Here is the link to Green Loans Assessor Action Group.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

ABSA Survey GLP Government Assistance Packages

2011-02-28T09:37:00.000+11:00

Take The ABSA Survey Now!

With reference to the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency's two assistance schemes for home sustainability assessors. ABSA is conducting a survey, looking for assessor's responses on this important matter.

If you did not, or have not as yet taken the survey, drop GLP Assessor an email to get the link. We have not posted the link live, as we want to make sure we are not repsonsible for skewing the results from non-assessors.The survey is open to both contracted & non-contracted assessors.

The quick survey contains questions about the end of the Green Loans Program, the assistance packages, and plans for assessor's future. ABSA would be grateful if you could complete this short survey, telling them what you think and what effect the announcement has and will have on you.

ABSA will we hope share the findings of this survey with DCCEE. Not just sharing but importantly standup for it's members!!! All responses will remain anonymous.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Loans Program Training Assistance Package

2011-02-28T09:17:00.000+11:00

On 21 December 2010 the Government announced support for accredited assessors. This includes a $15 million training assistance scheme to assist accredited assessors to further develop their professional skills and credentials.

Under this scheme the Government will refund 50 per cent of the tuition fees (up to $2,500) for accredited assessors that enroll to complete the new Certificate IV in Home Sustainability Assessment. Payments will be available for those who have enrolled in and paid for courses commencing before 30 June 2012.

For more information visit the Department Of Climate Change & Energy Efficiency website here.

What are your thoughts about this training package offer? It would appear that it is not readily available as of yet!

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Loans Program Financial Assistance Package

2011-02-28T09:00:00.000+11:00

Small Offerings For A Failed Career!

On 21 December 2010 the Government announced that to assist those affected by decisions on the Green Start and Green Loans programs, it was setting aside $30 million to assist uncontracted assessors and support accredited assessors to receive further training.

This includes a $15 million Financial Assistance Scheme to be delivered to assist uncontracted assessors who undertook the necessary measures to become Green Loans assessors, but were not contracted to deliver services under the program.

Under this scheme direct financial support of up to $3,000 will be provided to cover a number of specific costs incurred during the accreditation process.

For more information visit the Department Of Climate Change & Energy Efficiency website here.

As always we ask you to leave your comments on this important matter, as it may help to improve the compensation offered, not just for this program but others in the future that fail due to department mismanagement.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

The Brown Loans Program : GLP RIP

2011-02-12T19:26:00.000+11:00

Only with a few weeks to go of the infamous Green Loans Program, Peter Garrett must be itching to wash his hands finally of his mis-managed fiasco!

You may be looking forward to washing your hands Peter, but it has been said and felt by many of the hard working Australians you shafted, this brown goo you will never be able to wash off! Never! During your inactive.. OOPS Sorry Peter! Time left in Parliament....

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Start Senate Committee Recommendations

2010-11-05T17:39:00.000+11:00

Quote from Senate Committee Enquiry:

"Given the publication of the Auditor General's report into the Green Loans Program and subsequent to the conduct of this inquiry, the committee recommends that the Commonwealth Ombudsman consider conducting an own motion investigation into the administrative actions and arrangements within the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, that resulted in the serious problems with governance and communication endemic throughout the Green Loans Program."

It will be interesting to note which of these 15 recommendations will be taken onboard.

Read the Senate Committee Recommendations

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Assessors Will Never Forget GLP BAD MANAGEMENT

2010-10-18T22:38:00.000+11:00

The Auditor General's Report is a must read for all those people thinking of working with Government. One can see from the report into the GLP, that a lack of management and what private business would see as commonsense, is simply not present most of the time. Failings common place around every corner.

After reading the report there has to be serious doubt about staying involved in the new Green Start program. It is not a matter of thinking change but logics, commonsense and financial survival.

Quoted from the report:

Aspects of the program had not been administered to the standard that the Government and the community expected. The Minister also noted that:

around 4000 of the 7500 assessors had been contracted under the program, but with the program capped to 5000 assessors, some assessors would not receive contracts to work under the program;
over 210 000 of the program’s 360 000 assessments (58 per cent) had been completed in the first eight months of the program;
only 84 000 assessments (40 per cent of completed assessments) had been sent to households and there was a backlog of around 100 000 assessment reports yet to be sent out to households;
the delay in dispatching assessment reports was a contributing factor to the low uptake of green loans—only 1705 loans had been approved by participating financial institutions at that time;
Green Rewards cards had not been distributed to households; and delays in paying assessors were mostly due to incorrectly rendered invoices (with around 50 per cent of invoices incorrect or incomplete when first submitted).

Program changes announced on 19 February 2010 effectively capped the number of assessors and the demand for assessments, but also left thousands of assessors, who had each invested their time and around $3000 on training, insurance and registration, with unfulfilled work expectations.

The backlog of assessment reports to be distributed continued to grow to over 100 000, which denied many householders the opportunity to apply for an interest‐free green loan. - End quote.

How could anyone really be cleared of such a fiasco, beats me........

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Skeletons In The Green Loans Program Call Center

2010-10-18T22:20:00.000+11:00

Thank you to the Auditor General's Report for stating what assessors could only assume as the obvious, when being stopped from booking appointments early in 2010.

Quote "During the six-week period between the resumption of contact centre operations after the Christmas closedown (11 January 2010) and the announced caps on bookings (19 February 2010), the contact centre received 290 798 calls, only a quarter of which entered the queue."

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Loans Program Audit Report 29/09/10

2010-10-03T08:23:00.006+11:00

The following is quoted from the ANAO Australian National Audit Office's website, regarding the recently released audit into the failure of the Green Loans Program.

"On 3 February 2010, Senator Christine Milne wrote to the Auditor General raising concerns about DEWHA’s administration of the Green Loans program and requesting a performance audit of the program. Issues raised included: uncapped assessor numbers; problems with the delivery of the program; the quality of assessor training and assessments provided to households; the lack of an audit facility within the program; and equitable access to work under the program.

In light of Senator Milne’s request and other concerns in relation to the administration of the program, the Auditor-General agreed on 25 February 2010 to conduct a performance audit of the program. The objective of the audit was to examine key aspects of the establishment and administration of the Green Loans program by DEWHA and the program’s transition to DCCEE. Particular emphasis was given to the program’s three main elements:

training, registration and contracting of assessors;
scheduling, conduct, and reporting of home sustainability assessments, and the associated payments to assessors; and
provision of green loans to householders, and the associated payments to participating financial institutions.

The audit also examined the extent to which steps had been taken by DEWHA and DCCEE to assess whether the Green Loans program was achieving its objectives."

Visit the ANAO website here or download the audit into who was responsible here.

Please use this blog to leave your comments on the audit. And if like GLPAssessor you still feel that you have been let down by both the Government and ABSA, leave your vote on this site.

How can you have a professional body in charge of training, that knowingly over trains, or allows the supposed allocation of assessors to grow to an unsustainable number, knowing that the system will break?

Could a system such as that, if having trainers on the board ever argue their way out of a conflict of interest? And could such a system be their really 100% in favour of voicing assessors opinions in a true honest sustainable workplace, for all parties concerned?

We must remember that a similar Green Loans Program operated in the UK. Where the only winners before the system over trained the nembers, were the Fat Cat Trainers.....

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Loans Program Assessors Think Change At The General Election

2010-07-29T12:14:00.006+10:00

Green Loans Program assessors 'Think Change', when it comes to the Green Start Program being offered as an alternative career option, by Penny Wong at the Department Of Climate Change .

As an accredited assessor are you going to change your vote at the General Election?

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Start Program : Assessors Vote Yes Or No?

2010-07-29T11:43:00.007+10:00

Green Start - Think Change : The Department Of Climate Change is offering Green Loans Program assessors, a supposed transparent change over, to a Green Start Program via a grant application.

As an accredited Green Loans Program assessor are you going to apply?

This Government is surely making it hard and difficult for independent Green Loans assessors to wonder what the point is, to attempting to stay in a Green Workforce! Why does this Government come up with good ideas but fail to apply them in a sustainable way?

Personal initial thoughts on the application are, it seems to have been formulated for large business. And did we not learn how those large businesses were affecting our own individual small businesses before?

And to offer assistance in the form of Job Services Australia is just another 'stick in the eye' from this Government. Since when does the average independent assessor want to apply for a grant, that will be offered on 'value for money' in the departments eyes!

As an independent assessor what are you going to do? And if you are going to steer away from the Green Start Program why?

For those of you who have not read the application fully here is the link.

Pay special attention to how you are allowed to advertise your services. No Cold calling is allowed!!!! Door or phone!

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

$1.5M Green Loans Program Compensation Claim

2010-07-23T12:36:00.004+10:00

A new Compensation Claim of $1.5 million is being prepared against the Federal Government's Green Loans Program, after the release of three damming reports into the programs failed administration.

Green Loans Assessors Action Group (GLAAG) is currently seeking compensation for those Home Sustainability Assessors disaffected by the federal government's Green Loans Program.

Further information on claims for both non-contracted & contracted assessors can be found on Aaron Nielsin's blog. Show your support by visiting Aaron's blog where you can further link to Google Groups and downloadable claim forms.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Loans Program Audit Review Reports

2010-07-08T17:49:00.008+10:00

The Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, and Water, Senator Penny Wong has today released three separate reports into the Government’s Green Loans program. The Minister also announced that the Green Loans program would transition into a new Green Start program.

The reports released are:

Independent Inquiry into the Green Loans Program – Review of procurement processes and contractual arrangements by Ms Patricia Faulkner AO.

Internal Audit Review of the Procurement Practices in the Green Loans Program produced by Protiviti.

Review of the Green Loans Program produced by Resolution Consulting Services.

The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has also released its response to both the Faulkner Inquiry into Green Loans and the Hawke Review into the Home Insulation Program.

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) has also provided a response to the Faulkner and Hawke reports.

The reviews can be found on the department's website here.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

ABSA / Green Loans Assessors Testimony Green Loans Senate Inquiry

2010-07-01T11:56:00.004+10:00

ABSA & Green Loans Assessors give testimony at the Green Loans Senate Inquiry on the 29th June 2010.

This blog post is a copy of a recent ABSA newsletter and is supplied for information purposes only.

The Green Loans Program was a great initiative which was damaged by hasty implementation, short cuts, ill-defined roles and ad hoc changes, the Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA) told a Senate committee on Tuesday 29thJune.

ABSA Chairman, Wayne Floyd, told the Senate Environment, Communications and The Arts References Committee, sitting in Sydney, that ABSA signed a protocol with the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) in February 2009 to provide services as an Assessor Accrediting Organisation.

However, problems soon arose because of ad hoc changes to the scheme and because DEWHA had failed to meet its commitments to appoint an auditor, manage numbers, provide Continuing Professional Development and ensure the training course for assessors was properly accredited.

In February 2010, the then Minister responsible, Peter Garrett, announced a cap of 5,000 assessors after numbers blew out. The Minister now responsible, Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, is yet to announce how the cap will be implemented.

Also presenting evidence were a number of contracted and uncontracted assessors, representatives from The Australian Bankers Association (ABA), Abacus Mutual (representing credit unions and building societies), Fieldforce Services and senior representatives from the Department.

A transcript of the hearing can be read by following this link. It should be noted that this is the preliminary version and may change in line with standard Parliamentary Hansard procedures.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Is Peter Garrett Heading For The Lock Up For Getting It Wong?

2010-04-24T12:06:00.004+10:00

Quoted from the Australian on the 24th April is this.

Senator Wong warned that anyone who had rorted the Green Loans scheme would be referred to the Australian Federal Police.

"Non-compliance and fraudulent activity will not be tolerated under the Green Loans program," Senator Wong said.

Personally I would like to see Peter Garrett heading towards the lock-up for rorting, by constant mismanagement and bad design, not once, not twice, but constantly.

And that legal agreement which Penny Wong relates to, is it the agreement that day after day, month after month her same department ignores. Paying assessors late, month after month!

Turn around Penny and get your own house in order!

When assessors are constantly pushed onto 'Struggle Street', one would have to ask whether that situation is enough to encourage rorting!

I mean 'Hello ALP', just place more bums on seats and pay everyone on time! Your constant non-compliance and fraudulent activity is really starting to SUCK BIG TIME for all assessors!

It is getting to a point where your Green Initatives are costing more to fix than operate. Why?

Bad design : No management.

Private enterprise gets it right! What is wrong with your departments? To much reliance on Risk Assessment? Audit from day 1 : Not when the systems broken!!

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

ABSA's Submission To The Green Loans Senate Inquiry

2010-04-20T20:51:00.005+10:00

ABSA has made a submission to the Senate Inquiry on the Green Loans scheme.

Members will be interested to read what they had to say. Click here for the pdf download. [Note this file is larger than 5MB].

Leave your comments on this post about ABSA's submission.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Senate Committe Into Green Loans Program

2010-04-17T19:45:00.004+10:00

The Senate Committee Inquiry into the Green Loans Program debacle should be well under way by now, we would hope!

For a shocking insight into what mistakes the Rudd Government has made, what level of distress and financial costs this has caused a group of Green Career Professionals, take a look at the submissions to the inquiry here.

Shame of you ALP for failing time and time again!

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Google Blogs Green Loans Program

2010-04-07T20:31:00.003+10:00

Visit this link to see what Google Blogs has found on the Green Loan Program. Listing articles and press releases that may go un-noticed.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

150 Assessors See Green Dream Turn Brown

2010-04-07T19:59:00.004+10:00

Read more about the fall of GLACO, from Senator Milne's Press Release of 7th April here.

This Government is sure doing a 'hell of a good job', in turning Aussie's OFF ever wanting to get involved in a Government Managed Green Career.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

All Quiet On The Home Sustainability Assessor Front?

2010-04-06T16:04:00.003+10:00

I Don't Think So!

As assessors we know there is a lot happening behind the scenes...

So Why So Quiet On This Blog?

Well when assessors use Google's system to spill the beans, containing other's private details, and then GLP Assessor is threatened with being sued by another, you have to ask yourself is this system you created for all assessors to benefit from:

Worth the time.
The risk.
The whatever?

At this moment in time I would have to question whether it is worthwhile spending more time in helping others, when at the end of the day the situation comes around and bites my tail!

All information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Assessors Not Being Paid Within Thirty Days

2010-03-28T14:41:00.008+11:00

Green Loans Assessors Face Financial Charges Due To LATE PAYMENT!

Are You One Of The Assessors Having Issues In Being Paid On Time?

GLPAssesor is!

After various phones call to the GLP Helpline 1300 773 451, with further emails to the new invoicing query email address. The outcome is that invoices have not been paid well within the 30 days, as stipulated in the legal contract.

Now in four days when I am charged the extra additional fees for not clearing the credit card on time, and the additional interest! Yes Prime Minister & Senator Penny Wong, I will be seeking these extra charges from the department on my next invoice, or in court!

Are You An Assessor With The Same Problem Of Late Green Loan Assessment Payment?

If you are outside of the 30 days with your invoices being paid, leave your story here as a comment. It would seem yet again we have another Government department [DCCEE] that does not live up to it's legal contract.

And most likely goes home at 5.00, instead of clearing the backlog which no doubt will be used as an excuse, for late payment. Not good enough!

Yet again this Government cannot get the basics of business correct. Issue's that in if the private sector would mean head's rolling!

Small Businesses go broke due to the Governments inability to stick to a legal contract! Pay within 30 days! Read more from this group of unhappy assessors.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

ABSA Assessor News Updates

2010-03-28T14:33:00.003+11:00

Are you looking for ABSA related News & Updates? Visit ABSA's website for the latest news and current information, with reference to the Green Loan Program.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Important Message : Information Containing Private Personal / Business Details

2010-03-26T19:59:00.007+11:00

As from 25th March at 7.00pm, the automatic system created by Google's blogger platform, where information posted to this blog live via an email address went live, has been STOPPED by GLPAssessor.

From now on ALL DATA forwarded via the 'email posting address' will be held as a draft copy until it is checked by GLPAssessor to see if it contains personal & business details such as email address, telephone numbers and other private information.

If it does, assessors are asked to follow the information with an email to GLPAssessor. This email should include proof that the personal / business details have been Ok'd by the owner of the said details, giving permission for them to be made public. Where the sender of the information has their private / business information stated in the content, it must state for 'public use' in the content.

This change has occurred due to personal details ending up in the public arena via this blog site. This was not intended to happen by the assessor concerned and was done by pure accident.

On being notified by the owner of these details, the information was removed from this blog by GLPAssessor within 12 hours of notification. Links that were active to this information were also deleted at this time. Google has already updated some of it's index to show this and further spidering by Google will remove any trace of the information. The index was searched at the same time and showed that the links were in fact null & void.

This blog was created one afternoon whilst waiting for the GLP Call centre to answer. A blog designed for assessors, to use as a platform to have their say. For assessors who seemed to have so much passion, but found to be stuck behind a forum firewall.

As GLPAssessor never intended to be tied to the desk of this blog, that was why Google's automatic posting seemed like an excellent idea and tool to use. Where assessors could simply 'have their say' in the real world! At the time of blog creation GLPAssessor assumed content would have been cleared for posting! In retrospect maybe one could say, it would be only a matter of time before information posted may contain private information.

As no body likes the idea of personal details being posted in unfamiliar places, GLPAssessor wishes to apologise to the party concerned, who's details were incorrectly posted automatically by an assessor to the public arena via this Green Loan Assessors blog.

GLPAssessor has contacted the assessors whom posted the information informing / confirming with them the information has been removed due to a breach of privacy.

Remember it is the assessors posting the information who are responsible for checking the content of the 'posting', and not GLPAssessor. As said already mentioned GLPAssessor will only allow information to be posted, once confirmation is received.

ALL information from now on will be strictly checked for any infringement of privacy.

Once again this error happened by accident, and Google's system has been adjusted to allow it not to happen again.

This error has happened during a turbulent time in the life of many assessors, which should not have occurred, where passions and stress are high, assessors tested to their limits due to the injustice of this debacle.

Details on How To Post To This Blog have been updated with this updated information.

GLPAssessor will periodically [3-4 days] check the 'draft copies' and if no further information has been received regarding the data it will be deleted.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

ABSA Member Update : Canberra Meetings : 17th March

2010-03-17T23:06:00.002+11:00

ABSA's CEO and Chairman met with Senator Wong in Canberra yesterday to continue our ongoing discussions about the Green Loans Program and the impact of the problems with the scheme for ABSA members.

ABSA were encouraged by the discussions which included three of the Minister's political advisers and four senior public servants from the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE). This should be viewed as a positive sign for ABSA members.

ABSA's CEO and Chairman left the meeting with a clear sense that no further knee jerk decisions were likely and that the Minister was absolutely committed to making decisions that were lasting, with solid policy foundations.

The meeting ran for over an hour with the Minister clearly interested in resolving issues and responsive to the concerns put forward by ABSA about the impacts on individuals. ABSA understands that the meeting between the Minister, staff and Departmental officials continued after ABSA's involvement had concluded. Again, this was encouraging.

Some of the discussion points included issues surrounding quality, clearly articulating objectives and a range of member concerns relayed to the Minister from our member base.

ABSA have been asked for further information on a number of different suggestions we had made on your behalf which we are working quickly to supply.

ABSA is also seeking approval to release the discussion paper, supplied to the Minister, publicly. We will keep you informed on this.

As you are aware, ABSA is looking for long term outcomes which help to both establish a solid industry for our members and improve residential sustainability. We do believe that we are making progress, however it is slower than we would like.

We would point out that the Minister has asked for ABSA's co-operation and patience while she sorts through what is a highly complex and problematic set of issues.

ABSA also held discussions with Senator Xenophon (Independent- South Australia), Senator Birmingham (Liberal- South Australia) and Senator Milne's (Greens- Tasmania) adviser. It was clear that people from all sides of politics remain concerned about the problems that have beset the Green Loans Program and are committed to assisting wherever they can.

ABSA will be providing some further information and advice to our members over what you can do to assist in securing practical, long term solutions. We will also be providing some advice and guidance for your consideration on any role each of you can play in the number of inquiries and reviews underway.

Green Loans Program Meetings : News : Statements : Calls To Action

2010-03-16T12:46:00.004+11:00

Green Loans Assessors & Assessor Groups are advised to use this blog platform, to get information out there in the public domain. Information is best shared to increase the size of the collective. As assessors we need to amalgamate together. Splinter groups will have less of an affect in the long run.

This blog is fully automated, where you create the posting via emailing it to an email address.
Each posting is fed around the internet via RSS feed, twitter and podcast and is easily shared in it's different formats.

If you have access to ABSA's forum the details are posted within. Read this blog entry:

How To Post To This Blog. Email GLP Assessor if required, the email address is in the menu bar of this blog.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Assessor's GLP Meeting Newcastle : CEO of ABSA Attending

2010-03-16T12:18:00.005+11:00

The CEO of ABSA, Alison Carmicheal will be attending a meeting with assessors, to discuss issues with the Green Loans Program on Friday 19th March, at 3'oclock in Hamilton, NSW.

Assessors are asked to invite other assessors. The meeting is to take place in the Hamilton Baptist Church Hall, at 108 Lindsay Street, Hamilton, opposite Gregson Park.

After the last meeting a Google Group for Newcastle Assessors was set up, in order to better communicate and act as a central store for documents used to lobby politicians, ABSA etc.

To join this group send an email to: newcastle-assessors@googlegroups.com.

Contact Ian Wilcox on (02) 40211019 Mobile: 0423 553868.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Loans Program : Months With No Career / No Money : Not Green Kevin!

2010-03-16T00:23:00.002+11:00

"Three months later, I still haven't done a damn thing for the environment. I don't even have a licence. My family is surviving on credit cards, and I am edging dangerously closer to bankruptcy every day. So how did it come to this?"

Read the full story of how the Rudd Government is quickly turning Aussie Workers Against Green Careers!

Would You Choose A Rudd Government Green Career?

2010-03-16T00:07:00.003+11:00

This moving entry from Aaron Nielsen's blog.

15 March 2010 : HSA delay - Volume Four.

Wednesday saw Senator Penny Wong, now the Minister in charge of the stagnant Green Loans Program, on her third day on the job. As is par for the course, though, the afternoon was less about what was said that was left unsaid.

Read the relevant pages from Senate Hansard here.

To some degree, I sympathise with Senator Wong: nobody would be envious of taking a job that is proving as troublesome as this one. Her address to the Senate was candid but predictable: she cited a number of exact figures about which most of us had merely speculated, and she lamented the program's dire performance under DEWHA before it was moved to the newly-formed DCCEE (Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency), but much of this we already knew.

However, some of her statements were more courageous and more telling. She revealed that the $50 Green Rewards Card - to be left with the householder in anticipation of the larger Green Loan - never got off the ground. With nearly a year passed and over 200,000 assessments completed, not one of these cards has been issued. With the loans no longer available, this is just one more setback for the clients, and one less reason to have an assessment done. Senator Wong also acknowledged not only the "unacceptable" delays in returning assessment reports to clients, but also the possible link between this tardiness and the perceived lack of popularity of the Green Loans.

What was notable by its absence, though, was a sense of conviction to solving the problem. Senator Wong cited figures of some 9300 trained assessors, 4000 of whom are practising HSAs today, but with no more than 1000 additional contracts still up for grabs. "It is a hard fact," said Senator Wong, "that there are going to be people who are accredited who will not be contracted under the program." There is hardly a sense, though, that anyone knows how the remaining contractors will be selected, or what will become of those who don't make the cut. (This is a question that I intend to raise with ABSA during their on-line seminar on 22 March.)

It's too easy, surely, to be harsh on Senator Wong for stepping into the job on Monday and not having solved a year's worth of problems by Wednesday afternoon. That said, it's been nearly a month since Mr Garrett, formerly in charge of the Green Loans Program, announced sweeping changes to the program, prompting a raft of questions to which we are still waiting for answers. I do not believe for a second that either Mr Garrett or Senator Wong knows any less, or found out any later, than we do among the general public; yet, they can't shake the appearance of being two steps behind. A number of reviews are under way, one of which is in the hands of the Auditor-General; these may tell us more, but perhaps not for months, by which time we may have found out for ourselves exactly how badly this has really gone.

Senator Wong's address garnered two immediate and impassioned responses from the Senate floor. Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham was ruthless in his cynicism, describing Senator Wong's candour as "a full confessional", "like something out of The Hollowmen". He asked pointedly about my aforementioned concern for those involved in the GLP who do not have contracts, and relayed his own experiences seeking a financial institution that still offers a Green Loan. (To those still waiting for approval on such a loan before the deadline on 22 March, I offer my condolences.)

Greens Senator Christine Milne followed suit with questions of her own. She reiterated the regular warnings from ABSA, some from as early as August last year, that there were already plenty of assessors long before the training moratorium was announced in November. She revealed that there were in fact five companies with special arrangements for booking assessments; we are all aware of Fieldforce by now, but I am trying find out about the other four. As she bluntly stated on Wednesday, "the community expects a few answers". Senator Milne offered a separate statement later in the day, writing in a slightly more diplomatic tone but still pressing the same questions from that afternoon.

Later in the day, Senator Wong met with ABSA representatives to discuss the next move. Sadly, they didn't have as much time as they had hoped, though there is another meeting scheduled for next week. ABSA released a statement calling for a "reset" to the GLP, and announced a discussion paper entitled A Future For Greener Homes about keeping the industry viable and supporting members who may be unable to find work. This document is not yet available generally, but with ever louder calls for compensation - and rumours starting to circulate of an imminent announcement on this front - this might happen sooner rather than later.

* * * * * *

Meanwhile, we are still counting the great human cost of this story.

On Tuesday, 9 March 2010, ABC's The Drum: Unleashed published a frank and succinct account by self-proclaimed "green non-entity" Gary Lord, who relays his own harrowing experiences in trying to become an assessor. It's a worthwhile and very down-to-earth read, and one that makes me not the least bit bitter that the ABC didn't publish my own article on the topic. The comments are likewise strewn with the remains of decent people preparing for a career that they are now all but thwarted from fulfilling.

Even more recently, on 14 March 2010, Adelaide's Sunday Mail told two stories of HSAs who have fallen by the wayside. One is of an entrepreneur, now up to her eyeballs in debt, and unable to secure the labour to pay it back, because of assumptions that only became false three weeks ago. The other is of a young man expecting a job that will never come, and of his partner expecting a child that will come all too soon. Unlike Gary Lord, who has resorted to living off credit, this young couple is struggling to live off charity. Those of you keeping count of HSAs whose careers lie in ruin through no fault of their own, add three more tally marks to your page. The article closes with independent Senator Nick Xenophon joining the call for compensation to those who have been stopped short of being able to join the green-collar workforce.

Fortunately for those of us aggrieved by the scheme, there are a number of grassroots initiatives to help us band together. In the footsteps of Sustainability Assessors Australia's request for interest in a class-action lawsuit, another group called Green Loans Money Back is hoping to make a difference without resorting to legal action. (Note that SAA isn't imposing involvement in a lawsuit on anyone interested in signing up. Similarly, GLMB isn't ruling out a lawsuit but would prefer to avoid it. We're all more interested in networking at the moment.) Here in South Australia, there is brewing a large proportion of dissatisfied HSAs who are forming a lobby group to support local members; their web site is still all business, but there is some coverage of their activities on Twitter.

You can see the interest is swelling, and you can see that the dissatisfaction is motivating a lot of us to take action. One thing that is missing, so far, is the co-ordination between these groups - but that will come, since the groups' memberships have a certain amount of crossover already. Personally, I am hoping for some form of national network (SAA, for example) to connect the efforts made by the groups that are sprouting in local communities. Numbers are growing slowly but steadily in each splinter group, but if we are to have a real influence in this industry, we will need solidarity in the not-too-distant future.

We have a plan to get it, too. Watch this space.

As for Senator Wong, I can only hope for her sake that the next three months will not be as much of a trial by fire as these first three days have been. Much of that is up to her, of course. She is fielding questions from all directions on this topic, and certainly, she must seek answers to them as we have been. That said, hers is the position of authority, as well as responsibility, to demand the answers that the public deserves. It will be a month, and a telling month for sure, before the Auditor-General has finished his own (ahem) assessment of the GLP.

I'm sure that the Labor government is determined to look forward instead of backwards on this matter, and most pleased with themselves for doing do. We have many unanswered questions to deal with now, but it doesn't mean that the circumstances under which we arrived at this point are no longer important. However, the discontinuity between Mr Garrett's removal and Senator Wong's appointment will likely mean that the questions of the past will never be answered. If we are to take any indication from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's refusal today to release correspondence relating to the similarly failed insulation scheme - which is linked to four deaths and 100 house fires - we might just have our work cut out for us. It hasn't stopped me asking yet, though, and thankfully, there are a few like-minded and equally-determined senators to keep me inspired.

What I really want, though, is to see a successful green-collar industry in Australia. I hope that people do not misread this about me. As the GLP began to unravel before my very eyes, my greatest fear was that support for the emergence of such an industry would turn into a political taboo, a setback for years to come. Whether I am a part of that industry from the outset or not is now a secondary concern; I want it to succeed for all of us. However, that means taking it seriously, getting it right this time, and setting a good example for future projects. I'm far too cynical to believe that this aspiration to quality has merely been neglected or forgotten.

In any case, could we all just dispense with the five-assessments-per-week furphy? There can only be 15000 assessments performed every week, and there are already 4000 practising assessors. You can do a maximum of five jobs a week, but the average assessor does fewer than four. With another thousand HSA contracts up for grabs, that number will drop to three. Perhaps I shouldn't try to speak for the quite separate plight of those assessors who are actually working - but at least I can talk about it for what it really is. Let us see if our minister can do likewise.

Aaron Nielsen
http://www.aarongnielsen.org.

Senator Penny Wong's Green Loan Program Statement 10th March

2010-03-13T20:48:00.004+11:00

The Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency & Water, Penny Wong delivers her statement to the Australian Senate on the current situation of the Green Loans Program.

Discussed are:

Assessment Demand.
Green Rewards Card.
Green Loans.
Assessor Training / Standards.
Assessment Report Delays.
Assessors Late Payment.
New Hotline.
Next Steps.

Read the full Green Loans Program statement here.

ABSA Member Update 11th March

2010-03-12T12:43:00.003+11:00

A Future for Greener Homes : Summary of ABSA discussion paper.

ABSA believes the Green Loans Program needs to be reset, with a clear focus on tangible and beneficial outcomes at its core. Contracts, processes and approach must clearly match the objectives of the program. ABSA continues to believe, and this is reflected in the large take up in the numbers of assessments, that the intent behind the scheme is sound and ultimately beneficial for Government, industry, households and the environment.

ABSA and its members believe that a number of changes should be implemented quickly to provide certainty, restore confidence and get its members working.

In addition ABSA believes that to make the most of the existing green loans opportunity, Government could support actions to build on this to develop a long term private practice or industry, existing without the need for ongoing financial support from Government and taxpayers.

Based on member feedback, ABSA compiled a comprehensive discussion document that made many suggestions for immediate changes to the Green Loans under the headings of Compulsory Green Audits (for all sustainability programs); Assessor Numbers and Recontracting; and Support and/or Compensation.

ABSA also outlined changes for the longer term through which to build on the current program to develop a long term private practice and industry, existing without the need for ongoing financial support from Government and taxpayers. Items covered Accreditation and Training; Alternate Sources for Finance; and Developing Private Practice.

ABSA looks forward to the opportunity to discuss these solutions to the problems associated with the Federal Government's Green Loans Program with the Minister and departmental staff next week Canberra. This meeting provides a real chance to build the cooperative relationship that is needed to deliver positive results for members.

Information Update

In ABSA's efforts to keep our membership as up-to-date as possible, we've identified the following links to detailed information around the Green Loans program, its evolution and the resulting impact on assessors. We hope you find this information originating from the Media and the Ministers useful.

Media Coverage (Wayne Floyd is quoted).

The Australian.

The Sydney Morning Herald.

Ministerial Statements Referencing The Green Loans Program.

Senator Wong's Statement.

Senator Birmingham's Statement.

Senator Milne's Statement.

South Australian Assessor Wanted To Talk To Media

2010-03-11T12:11:00.002+11:00

A request from Imogen Birley at the Australian Greens Party.

ASSESSORS WANTED! : Must be trained in South Australia, who are NOT going to get a DEWHA contract, (or are still waiting to hear from DEWHA). Willing to talk to the South Australian media, to contact Imogen, as soon as possible.

The more the Green Loans Debacle can be kept in the media, the more it will help generate some assistance / action from the Australian Government.

Contact Imogen Birley at:

Office of Senator Christine Milne.

Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania.
Level 1 Murray St Pier Hobart 7000. Phone: 03 6224 8899. Fax: 03 6224 7599.

Email:imogen.birley@aph.gov.au. Mobile: 0488 767 237.

Website: www.christinemilne.org.au. www.greenmps.org.au

ABSA Member Update 10th March

2010-03-11T08:57:00.003+11:00

An exert taken from ABSA's member update, dated 10 March.

ABSA Welcomes New Era Of Engagement With The Government.

Today ABSA's CEO and Chairman met with Senator Wong, in her capacity as the Minister responsible for the Green Loans Program following changes to Ministerial responsibility announced recently by the Prime Minister.

"We appreciate the time taken by Senator Wong to meet with us on an extremely busy day in the Senate and the recognition in her Ministerial statement, delivered immediately before her meeting with ABSA, of the planned departmental actions to address some of the shortcomings of the scheme," Mr Wayne Floyd, ABSA Chairman said.

Present at the meeting were Senator Wong, her adviser and several senior public servants from the new Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. ABSA welcomed the opportunity to speak openly and directly to the Minister.

Given the short time frames we were immediately offered a second meeting, scheduled for next Tuesday.

"In this next meeting we are looking forward to a new era of cooperation between ABSA and the Federal Government and continuing discussions with the Minister," Mr Floyd said.

We agreed that there are no quick solutions. ABSA is looking for long term outcomes which help to both establish a solid industry for our members and improve residential sustainability. ABSA has submitted to Senator Wong immediate and longer term proposals which would be of benefit to our members, the Government, industry and the environment.

It has been a frustrating few weeks for ABSA and our members, as unanticipated changes to the Green Loans Scheme and then Ministerial changes have delayed our ability to get meaningful answers about the future of the scheme.

ABSA appreciates that any major changes to the program may take some time to plan and implement but we were encouraged by the tone of today's brief discussion.

Alison Carmichael, CEO.

Wayne Floyd, Chair.

Rudd Government Keeps Green Careers On Hold!

2010-03-09T08:19:00.005+11:00

Much has been written and spoken about in the recent weeks, on the plight of Home Sustainability Assessors within the Green Loans Program. Assessors upon whom the recent changes to the Green Loans Program, impose a number of financial and 'no common sense' disadvantages.

But what about a group of assessors, ignored so far! A group of 2543+ assessors stuck in a web of red tape!

Assessors trained before the end of 2009!
Assessors who have forked out $1000's!
Assessors who are ABSA accredited!
Assessors who still await a DEWHA contract!
Assessors who's GREEN CAREER is ON HOLD!

These assessors are not being allowed to work by the bungled mismanagement of the Green Loans Program! This 'Nightmare On Garrett Street' is a daily occurrence for this group of assessors.

Assessors who have been given little support and viable solutions by DEWHA or ABSA!

They Have Not Been Able To Work For Months!

Get the true story of how the Rudd Government is dragging it's feet, making it impossible for this group of Australian Green Career Assessors to start work! Visit Aaron Nielsen's blog.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

4500+ Green Loan Assessors Screwed By DEWHA

2010-03-06T16:47:00.005+11:00

Yes, there are 4500+ assessors who were trained before 2010, and guess what! They have still not been able to take part in the Green Loans Debacle! Why is this?

Find out why the Australian Government has allowed these assessors to fork out thousands of dollars, and yet still to this day not give them the chance to work!

Of course it is all down to more mis-managment by DEWHA. A department that some people have commented on, as being one of the most inefficient departments in the Rudd Government, to date!

If you are one of the affected assessors, you will certainly want to join this active group, seeking justice! Check out the website, Green Loans Money Back.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

ABC Mid North Coast Green Loans Audio

2010-03-05T18:04:00.003+11:00

Well said, local independent MP Rob Oakeshott and Green Loans Assessor Steve Filetti in this interview about the truths of the Green Loans Program Debacle.

To listen to this informative interview by ABC Mid North Coast NSW local radio, click here.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Broken Green Loans Program Will Haunt Krudd Government

2010-03-05T17:37:00.003+11:00

I hereby quote from the previous post on this blog.

"Unlike home insulation, Green Loans was never part of the economic stimulus/job creation package and that no guarantees of employment were ever made. In fact this was an express term of the DEWHA contract with individual assessors – see clause 3.2: 'No guarantee of work'".

This is indeed, very correct! Assessors agree 100% with what is stipulated in the legal contract with DEHWA!

What we don't agree with is that your system DEWHA, failed! Assessors were unable to convert:

The clients.
The marketing leads.
The advertising leads etc.

Into viable assessments, due to your system being BROKEN for over six to eight weeks!

And that is what we hope the Class Action will succeed in compensating us for, due to your incompetence DEWHA!

ABSA Member Update 4th March

2010-03-05T08:16:00.002+11:00

An exert taken from the ASBA's member update, dated 4th March.

ABSA, has been able to secure a meeting with Senator Wong's office next Wednesday. As you know there has been a transfer of responsibility for Green Loans from Minister Garrett to Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, ABSA Chairman, Wayne Floyd and CEO Alison Carmichael, and ABSA's adviser, Australian Public Affairs, will attend the meeting in Canberra.

It has been a frustrating few weeks both for ABSA and for our members, as unanticipated changes to the Green Loans Scheme and then Ministerial changes have delayed our ability to get some meaningful answers to our members about the future of the scheme and move forward.

Senator Wong's office responded very quickly to our request and we will be seeking answers to questions previously raised with Minister Garrett and DEWHA and how the recently announced changes will affect members in the short and long term and proposing ways in which ABSA can work with her department to provide some certainty for the future.

In addition, ABSA has been in regular contact with other senior politicians, including Opposition Environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, and Greens Senator Christine Milne, to keep them up to date with issues.

Meanwhile ABSA has been engaged in a number of other initiatives:

* A number of members have asked us to make representations to Government that HSAS assessors be afforded the same Centrelink package as has been promised to home insulation installers. ABSA will initiate discussions with Minister Wong. However, it should be noted that on previous occasions when ABSA has raised this with DEWHA, they have informed us that unlike home insulation, Green Loans was never part of the economic stimulus/job creation package and that no guarantees of employment were ever made. In fact this was an express term of the DEWHA contract with individual assessors – see clause 3.2: "No guarantee of work".

* In the light of turmoil in the Green Loans Scheme, ABSA is developing a HSAS refunds policy to address the changes to the program. However, it is not practical to announce this policy until we have met with Minister Wong's office and we are certain that there will not be further changes to the Scheme and the policy itself.

* After waiting for the Continuing Professional Development modules promised by DEWHA many months ago, ABSA now has three staff members working full time on developing its own CPD structure and content. Significant membership funds are being committed to developing and implementing these modules.

* As a result of questions raised at the AGM about our disciplinary process, as stated in our Constitution, and Code of Practice matters raised by members, an ABSA Working Group is developing enhanced disciplinary processes to support the Code of Practice. This will be on the agenda for discussion at the first meeting of the HSAS and HERS Member Sub-committees which will meet later this month.

ABSA, through consultants Australian Public Affairs has been engaging with media, clarifying inaccuracies when necessary and communicating the position of our members and of ABSA.

ABSA Member Update 2nd March

2010-03-05T08:14:00.003+11:00

An exert taken from the ASBA's member update, dated 2nd March.

ABSA Chairman Wayne Floyd and CEO Alison Carmichael met with Minister Garrett, his staff, DEWHA, Shadow Minister, Greg Hunt and Greens Senator Christine Milne on Wednesday, February 24.

At each meeting they tabled a brief on ABSA, on its role in the Green Loans program, the impacts of the recently announced changes to the program and potential solutions to problems arising from the changes.

The discussion with Minister Garrett and DEWHA was guided by a set of questions, available on the HSAS website under News tab.

ABSA put forward the concerns of members about the cap on assessor numbers and the limit on the number of assessments per day. This is having an adverse impact on many members who believed the scheme provided a viable business for the foreseeable future.

DEWHA would give no undertakings but did promise written answers to these by Friday. We all now know what happened on Friday. Minister Garrett was demoted and his energy efficiency portfolio was given to Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong and assistant Minister Greg Combet. We have yet to receive the answers but have been assured on Monday that they are coming.

ABSA is greatly concerned that these changes mean a further delay in finding solutions for its members and is now seeking an urgent meeting with the new Minister.

Early indications are that both Ministers Wong and Combet are going to spend some time being briefed on the issues before they start meeting with stakeholders.

Indian Call Centres Generating / Booking Assessments

2010-02-26T19:31:00.008+11:00

When this blog is searched by Google for: "ho code vs assessor email" and the search is from India, wise assessors know a 'fair go' is not going to be the outcome for all assessors. Of course any assessor, and YES GLP Assessor was tempted, who books appointments via a lead generation system, at some time is going to be disadvantaging other assessors!

Up to the recent changes of the 19th February, it was a miracale to be able to get through to DEWHA. These lead generators promised they could for $$$. GLP Assessor, chose not to use that system! But we know the Indian call centres were getting through!

Why? Well anyone using an auto dialler, can, and only blocks the system for everyone!

We hope that DEWHA this time, will make sure that loophole is closed!

GLP Assessor over the last month, has had more calls from Indian Call Centres, wishing to make bookings, than Australian homes! Of course these call centres can use their reverse database and collect a group of 'would be' homes for assessment. Not taking the fail rate of the booking into account, GLP Assessor thinks this should be STOPPED. And it may have been, now due to the cap, on the number of assessments per assessor per week!

On the Green Loans website is stated "assessor or representative". What does this exactly mean DEWHA? It is hoped it means, bookings made by active assessors. Assessors with HO numbers, and passwords which they can change on a frequent basis, to prove, who they are!

Of course anyone can source a list off Google, or ABSA's site and pretend to be that assessor! Are you DEWHA going to make sure this cannot be rorted?

GLP Assessor does not want to see a 'fire sale' on HO numbers, just for the task of booking assessments. Anyone can pretend to be a number can't they? HO number purchased for $$$$!

If we are going to have a new Green Loans Program, then let's make sure this time it is 'rort free' for God's sake! You DEWHA have buckets of money to waste it would seem! So invest some of this $$$, firstly in making sure the foundations of GLP II are solid!

This post is not against Indian lead generation call centres, but the whole concept of lead generation call centres, being used within the concept of the GLP I & II, at the expense of other assessor's chances to a 'fair go'!

Because what we are left with here is the crumb's of what we had, and some of us have no other choice than to use these crumbs, to stay sane and feed our families!

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com and your comments as usual are welcome on this blog.

Green Loans Program Debacle Videos

2010-02-26T18:24:00.004+11:00

Australian politicians air their views on the problems with the Green Loans Program, created by the mismanagement of the scheme by DEWHA.

Click to watch Andrew Laming on Peter Garrett's Green Loans Failure - 24th February.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Auditor General Launches Probe Into Green Loans Program

2010-02-26T07:57:00.005+11:00

The Auditor-General yesterday launched a probe into the government's bungled environment program, the $175 million Green Loans Program.

The audit of the green loans scheme by Auditor-General Ian McPhee, is likely to put the Environment Minister under further pressure.

And why should it not?

GLP Assessor was put under further pressure yesterday as booked client's cancelled appointments. Why? Well there is NO GREEN LOAN in the Green Loan Program anymore! Those client's wanting the loan, to assist in installing solar electric and solar hot water.

Either GLP Assessor is positioned in a Green Loan Hungry cluster! Or DEWHA is not aware that the reduced uptake of the loan is due to:

A: No report!
B: Banks knocking back clients based on age! Even though this is not the excuse explained to the bank's client!

Both of these reasons being very common!

Let us all hope that commonsense prevails, in any further changes / ammendments to what could have been an excellent program, if it had been designed and managed correctly in the first place!

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Loans Program Steps Into Concrete Boots

2010-02-25T02:09:00.001+11:00

The Green Loans Program it would appear is taking it's last few steps, before closure.

The ANZ & Westpac have decided to not take new applications, even though the scheme expires on March 22nd.

One can only assume with this announcement from two of the major lenders, that there is not going to be any back-flip regarding the possible rebirth of the Green Loan.

Both banks said they would continue to process applications already lodged. Read the full story on the Herald Sun's website.

RIP : Green Loans Program : Your Life Was Too Short!

Colours On The Wall : The Brown Loans Program

2010-02-24T16:33:00.007+11:00

With the failure of the Green Loans Program, it was not the writing on the wall, but more so the colours, that should have been addressed!

GLP Assessor has a new name, The Brown Loans Program!

As we all know from our early years of learning, mix your colours incorrectly, and you would often end up with a ****y brown colour.

Here we have a Red Government, trying to be Green. But Green is Green! Not Red!!

As you keep on proving Labour, with your failed Green Programs! Not my feelings at all, but based on your own success! Or lack of it!

Peter Garrett has shown during a lack of good management, that it is best to remember, the basic colour education of mixing 'Red & Green', it always means you end up with a ****y BROWN colour!

From now on Aussie households we hope, will hear about, read, see a Green Policy, think about Green Party, and thus make a Green VOTE!

Why did we not realise RED means STOP! WARNING! Stupid us! Australians beware of the true colours of a political party!

Remember Peter, the idea of a program called the Green Loans Program without the loan, would just seem a little lame to most Australian households! Why not show your true colours Peter, and rename your new program, after it's true colour!

The Brown Loans Program!

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Loans Program In Limbo : Green Limbo Program

2010-02-24T12:20:00.004+11:00

GLP Assessor has found this refreshing blog article, by Aaron Nielsen. It just goes to show that even assessors 'not on the road' yet, fully understand the mistakes that were forecast by ABSA and other assessors, but alarmingly carried through by those at the helm!

Alas, we seem to have a Government department, that just keeps on pumping out knee-jerking decisions, that destroy the very Green Program itself!

Am I missing out on some basic business logics and ethics here, or should the obvious action be taken? As assessors further know, these actions are creating daily situations that make a mockery of the legal contract signed by all assessors, with the Government!

Read the article Green Loans In Limbo on Aaron's blog.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

What Is A Garret? Nothing More Than Fluffed Insulation?

2010-02-24T11:14:00.007+11:00

The Free Dictionary reports the definition of a Garret as being a:

"floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage".

GLP Assessor can only congratulate the Free Dictionary for their choice of image! As we can see in the image, the choice of household insulation is nothing more than a load of fluff! Visit the site here.

GLP Assessor supports all Aussie Insulators left out in the cold!

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

DEWHA's Green Loans Program Enquiry Line On Hold

2010-02-24T10:47:00.007+11:00

New Green Loans Program Enquiry Line On Hold!

The department has established a new line to handle enquiries. The phone number is 1300 778 451. If you wish to make an enquiry, please phone this number, is the advice on the department's website.

So GLP Assessor did call the number today, after trying to book assessments on 1800 895076 which is still 100% engaged! Surley for GLP Assessor it would make sense to confirm whether the new call centre is in fact online, as of yet!

ALAS, after waiting for half an hour it would appear there is no limit to the phones this department can place on hold!

My vote at the next election, will not be on hold though DEWHA! Along with my fellow assessors and those in the Green Industry ripped off by your mismanagement.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

ABC 7.30 Report : Green Loans Scrapped

2010-02-23T20:48:00.003+11:00

When Peter Garrett abruptly terminated the Government's beleaguered Home Insulation Program on Friday, he also axed another controversial federal scheme, the Green Loans Program.

Under this scheme, people could get a free energy assessment of their home, and then apply for a four-year interest free loan to finance improvements, to their energy efficiency. More than 200,000 homes have already been assessed, but only around 1,000 loans have been approved, with claims that the program has been mired in bureaucratic blockages.

Now the loans themselves have been scrapped and thousands of people who trained as assessors fear they'll go broke. Matt Peacock reports on the full story here : Green Loans Scrapped.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Logics Wins Over Garrett's Lack Of Commonsense

2010-02-21T16:28:00.002+11:00

According to Greens Senator Christine Milne, she say's the Government has panicked, with it's recent restructure of the Green Loans Program.

"What is the point in now having hundreds of thousands of assessments, if people are not then in a position to be able to borrow money in order to implement the changes?" she said.

Senator Milne says changes to the program, do not deal with the questions about the quality control of assessments, or the consistent training of auditors.

"They needed to go back and look at a nationally accredited training course, a re-registration of people, to make sure they had met a certain standard," she said.

"They needed to fix the software, make sure that the whole program was sorted out before they moved to the next stage.

"Instead of that they've rushed from one thing to another in knee-jerk reaction, in a panicked state, and it is going to create more problems."

All too true Senator Milne! It's not too hard to see where the mistakes have and are still being made. Will this nightmare on 'Garrett Street' ever end?

Assessor State Representation Email Addresses

2010-02-21T16:07:00.004+11:00

To contact your state's local representative, use the following email format:

assessors*@gmail.com.

Where the * is the code for your state.

nsw : qld : mel : tas : sa : nt : act : wa

Note: VIC is mel. Likely reason being 'vic' is already assigned under Google Mail.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Homes Want The Green Loan! Where Are The Reports DEWHA?

2010-02-20T09:01:00.008+11:00

Over 85% of GLP Assessor's clients, ONLY GOT a Home Sustainability Assessment for one reason! To Access The Green Loan!

Reports of a low intake of Green Loans, due to lack of interest from the householder, is nothing more than the biggest load of badly researched BOLLOCKS from the Government!

Assessed homes contacted in the last week by GLP Assessor STILL have NO REPORTS! These homes were assessed in October 2009, November 2009, December 2009, January 2010!

The reason for homes not accessing the Green Loan is simple. They need the Home Sustainability Assessment Report to access the loan.

DEWHA you have a very big problem in sending out reports on time!

Now call me stupid if you must on this one! But if 85% of my clients only got the assessment due to the Green Loan, what is MY BUSINESS going to be doing next week, and the week after?

The majority of homes will not want a Home Sustainability Assessment, without the Green Loan!

I ask DEWHA, to call 500 assessed homes. Home assessed by independent assessors please, and ask them these questions.

A: Have you got the report?

B: How long have you been waiting for the report?

C: Do you intend to use the report to access the Green Loan?

And YES make the results public!

DEWHA, if you intend to follow through with your promise, and call 5000+ assessors this weekend, with reference to the changes in the Green Loan. Then next weekends challenge which I set down for you of calling 500 homes should be as simple as:

1: Do the research to find the failings.

2: Report on the true results.

3: Create a sustainable, simple, logical solution.

This Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

VOTE NOW On The Changes To The Green Loans Program

2010-02-20T08:35:00.004+11:00

What Changes To The Green Loans Program Do You Agree With?

Copy and email the following address to your fellow assessors : http://twtpoll.com/r/a41etd.

We need as many votes as possible on this one!

This information edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

ABSA Welcomes Green Loan Announcement By DEWHA

2010-02-20T07:58:00.005+11:00

The Association of Building Sustainability Assessors, ABSA, has welcomed a number of changes to the Green Loans Program. Announced on the 19th February by the Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Mr Peter Garrett.

ABSA Chairman Wayne Floyd, said today that many of the changes were in line with the organisation's, representations to government.

ABSA is the accrediting body for assessors under the Household Sustainability Assessment Scheme. Householders applied for a Green Loan after having their home assessed by ABSA members, who must have completed a training course, and obtained the required insurance cover and Police check.

"Changes such as the extra 600,000 assessments, and weekly caps on assessment bookings are welcome. The announcement of additional work for assessors under the Green Start program in 2011, should result in a continuation of work for our members.

"These are all positive moves for the sustainability industry, and will help to ensure that our members can be more confident, about their long term future," he said.

However, Mr Floyd said the cap of 5,000 assessors, working on the Green Loans Program would create problems. There are currently about 7,000 member assessors accredited by ABSA, with a further 2,000 applications being processed.

"We don't know yet how the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), which runs this scheme, will determine which of our members will make the cut and who will lose out.

"This is particularly frustrating, as ABSA warned the Department last August that the number of people seeking accreditation as assessors, was far higher than anticipated and that there would be too many assessors, for the 360,000 assessments originally budgeted for.

There was also no mention in the announcement of quality control, or auditing, issues which ABSA would be vigorously pursuing with the Department.

"ABSA will continue to have discussions with government, to ensure the long term viability of the sustainability industry" Mr Floyd said.

Press Release : Changes To Commonwealth Environmental Programs

2010-02-19T15:45:00.008+11:00

The Australian Government today announced a series of changes, to the administration of the environmental programs to boost safety and improve environmental performance.

These changes are aimed at boosting safety for households and safety for the workers whose employment is funded by these important environmental programs.

Significant Changes to Green Loans Program

The Government will help over an additional 600,000 Australian households tackle climate change through a re-designed and extended Green Loans program.

That is on top of the 360,000 assessments already available under the program, of which more than 270,000 have already been booked nationwide.

The re-design of the program will include:

the discontinuation of the less popular loans component next month to provide for the significant boost to assessment availability;

a new cap of 5000 assessors, allowing up to an extra 1200 trained assessors to contract with the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts;

a weekly cap of 15,000 assessment bookings and a daily and weekly cap per assessor of three and five respectively to ensure greater quality and a more even distribution of work for assessors right around the nation;

changed booking arrangements allowing only individual assessors to make bookings.

These new arrangements will apply to the end of 2010.

To learn more, read the Significant Changes To Commonwealth Environmental Programs press release to see how this affects Green Loans Assessors.

Senator Christine Milne's comments on the changes can be found here.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Green Loans Call Centre Changes Announced

2010-02-19T15:26:00.004+11:00

19th February : Changes to the Green Loans Call Centre Changes will occur over the weekend. This message is announced via the 1800 895 076 Call Centre number.

A notice to assessors via the Green Loans Program website explains:

"These new program changes will assist in improving the quality of assessments, and ensure a fair spread of assessments between assessors.

Assessors will be unable to make bookings whilst the call centre is closed. We apologise for any inconvenience.

As soon as we have updated information on program changes and the new call centre arrangements, the Department will contact assessors by email, and where possible by phone. This will occur over the weekend.

Assessments currently booked in the system will proceed as normal. Assessments undertaken to date will be paid.

If you have submitted a contract to the Department to become an assessor, the Department will contact you over the next two weeks to inform you of how the changes will affect you."

Visit Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Green Loans Program Unanswered Questions

2010-02-19T14:32:00.006+11:00

With reference to the Green Loans Program, there are a few questions that seem difficult to get clear answers to.

Therefore if you know the answers, please add them as a comment to this blog post.

Who set the RTO's training targets for the GLP scheme?
When were these targets set?
What targets did the RTO's have on a weekly basis?
How often did the RTO's feedback this information to ABSA / DEWHA?
How was this feedback supplied?
Howcome when the assessor numbers blewout, did the training not cease?

Why was Field Force's arrangement of direct booking, NEVER explained by ABSA or DEWHA?
Why was the same not mentioned in the contract?
Where the Government shows BAD FAITH in the contract what can be done?
Where the Government takes longer than 30 days to settle accounts what can be done?

How is ABSA going to represent it's member's in the fight for justice and losses?

Are accreditation fees and other costs based on 12 months going to be refunded in part?

If you would like to see your question added to this list. Email GLP Assessor.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Banks Pre-Approval On Green Loan : Good Idea?

2010-02-19T12:51:00.008+11:00

Some Green Loan Program clients assessed in October, have still not received Home Sustainability Reports! November and December's clients reporting the same, when contacted today by GLP Assessor.

Some of the Green Loan lenders are giving pre-approval on the loans. GLP Assessor thinks this is not a wise idea!

Why? Client's are being pushed by the Solar provider to order. Once ordered, some suppliers are installing the goods, to await connection after approval. What happens if the client cannot pay, without the loan being approved?

This morning a GLP Assessor client reported, the goods are on the roof, awaiting connection on complete approval of the loan. When will this approval occur though, whilst the reports are still not arriving.

Questions arise regarding this scenario:

What happens if the loan is never approved?
Will the Solar Provider seek monies from the client?
How will the Solar Provider seek installation / de-installation costs and off who?
How can a weathered second hand system be sold?
If the GLP finishes tomorrow, what happens to these pre-approved loans?

Of course this is only the tip of the ice berg, with many questions still to be asked!

Yet again this could be very messy. Is there not anyone checking the delivery of this scheme? I am sure there were meant to be auditors? During the scheme, or after the scheme falls off the rails!

In most cases it would appear, it is the Solar Providers, pushing the client for the pre-approval, so they can place the order!

And what if the Government had delivered the reports on time! Well this post would not be here!

Your comments on this post please.

Information is edited / supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Loans Moan Follows Insulation Drama

2010-02-18T23:15:00.002+11:00

This article was the result of a letter to the editor for my local newspaper, the Ipswich Advertiser. Read the article here.

Loans Moan follow insulation drama

HOT on the heels of the foil insulation for roofs tragedy, Environment Minister Peter Garrett is fighting off complaints about his department's Green Loans scheme.

The program helps homeowners to install solar, water-saving and energy-efficient products.
About 9000 assessors have been employed to inspect homes.

Ipswich sustainability assessor Cassie McMahon has seen close to 60 households since November in Ipswich and greater Brisbane. She says the program has been mismanaged by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA).

"As an independent assessor, I am unable to make bookings through the call centre which is required prior to me doing the assessment," she said. "The call centre is constantly engaged, or stating 'we are receiving a high number of calls' and suggests that we call back, then hangs up. "If assessors are able to get through, it is common to be on hold for about an hour, occasionally two hours."

Ms McMahon said householders waiting for their reports usually needed to contact DEWHA via the call centre before they could apply for a Green Loan of up to $10,000 interest-free for up to four years.
"I chose this program because it was a way for me to gain an income by doing what I'm passionate about – promoting sustainability," she said.

"This program is great in principle, but the system is broken."

Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said the government was "working on the issue".

An independent inquiry had been set up on February 9 relating to "contractual agreements and procurement processes", including call centre waiting times and resourcing. "There are elements of the program that aren't working as effectively as they could," Mr Neumann said. "I'm assured that these things will be addressed."

Another Green Loans Assessor Bites The Dust! : Hello Centrelink

2010-02-18T00:01:00.003+11:00

5000+ Green Loans Assessors Due To Knock On The Door Of Centre link!

Letters and emails are being sent to DEWHA and Peter Garrett's office, asking for a written confirmation of why the Department has made the task of being a Home Sustainability Assessor impossible! Turning many assessors off anything 'Garrett Green' forever!

Such as sample email / letter is thus:

Dear Mr Garrett,

After a month of unsuccessful daily attempts to contact the Green Loans call centre to book assessments, I now need to sign on with Centre link.

I would appreciate a letter from the minister's office explaining why I cannot get paid work, despite their being a huge demand for my services and a long list of customers needing advice thanks to your "extraordinarily successful program".

It's not for lack of trying, but my unpaid hours on the telephone trying to get through to book jobs are not putting food on the table for my wife and five-month-old daughter. Despite repeated assurances from your department the situation is no better than it was a month ago.

I have completely lost confidence in the Rudd government and it's dismal performance on environmental outcomes, and in DEWHA and it's ministers.

Yours sincerely,

Independent Assessor.

It's a sad state of affairs when the Government can support the unemployed better than those within a supposedly 'Green Employment Of The Day' program!

Shame on you Mr. Garrett, Mr Rudd & The ALP!

Assessors With The GLP Program Since Launch, Have Their Say

2010-02-17T23:29:00.002+11:00

Hello Green Loans Program Assessor Blog.

Interesting comments here on the ABC Life Matters, Have Your Say page, by some of the program's initial assessors.

Keep pushing the news out into the public arena. The average householder is unaware we have all been shafted by the Government!

FREE 'Garrett Calculators' For The Green Loans Program

2010-02-17T21:37:00.002+11:00

Dear Peter,

There seems to just be something wrong with your 'Garrett Calculator', or my Chinese one.

Thank you for the recent insight into Field Force via the media. At first I was not to sure who they were!

Especially after not being made aware of such a large component of the GLP scheme. It's funny, as I cannot remember them being mentioned in any contract or training? Maybe I overlooked that!

So Field Force has 6000 assessments booked per week, multiplied by 48 weeks per year? WOW! That equates to ONLY 288,000 assessments in the first year!

With my $2 calculator. I don't seem to be able to get anywhere near the four years Peter, you originally stated as the life of the GLP scheme. What is more disturbing about these Chinese made imports is, if I do multiply the first year of Field Force's success, by three more, I seem to have these meaningless numbers of 1,152,000.

I can only afford this cheap calculator Peter, as I have been unable to work so far. Could you please forward one of your 'Garrett' calculators, so I can see how you at least got near to 4 years, and the 360,000 assessments.

I am confused even more about the grand total forecast of assessments, that I arrived at when trying to include the independent assessors. Could you clarify as to whether I am correct in believing, that independent assessors were to be included in the same scheme. Or is there another program? If there is, this would account for the lack of booking services available, as I am WHOOPS, trying to book on Field Force's.

Sorry for the confusion at my end Peter, I have been on the phone eight hours a day for five days a week, trying to fathom this one out! O'h by the way I hope you don't mind me forwarding the information on the Garrett calculator, to other assessors.

I await your reply Peter.

Sincerely,

The Broken Assessor

Liar Liar Pants On Fire : Assessors Future Is More Than Dire!

2010-02-17T17:44:00.002+11:00

We can all wonder and fear, what further Climate Change could occur, should a certain Senator's flaming under-ware, be cast out into the dry Aussie bushland!

It must be rather uncomfortable wearing 'Pants Of Fire', in such a well GLP insulated office!

Assessors are not smiling too often these days. But find it impossible too keep a straight face, when we think of the Green Loans Program helm. Unmanned, unmanaged, totally out of control!

It seems that the helm has been left to collect dust for too long. Now of course the reason is, it's everyone else's fault!

Those laughable comments or confirmation of mismanagement are thus endless.

"I didn't have an expectation of numbers over the life of the program…"

Peter Garrett, Sky News, 10 February 2010.

"… advice that came into Estimates last night from the Department said that on many occasions the forms themselves aren't properly filled in, so we're now providing feedback for the assessors to enable them to see a template on how the form needs to be filled in properly."

Peter Garrett, Sky News, 10 February 2010.

On 20 August 2009 the Secretary of the Environment Department told the Australian Economic Forum that the program would be delivered through:

"training 1,000 home sustainability assessors to undertake 360,000 audits".

Instead of training 1,000 assessors, as promised, Peter Garrett and the Rudd Government have trained 3,648 assessors, without ever announcing their intention to increase this number. (Senate ECA Estimates, 9/2/10, p96).

We could gone on. Remember 'The Truth Is Out There' - Now where did I hear that before?

Read more about the Green Loans Program Mismanagement News, from Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action: Senator Simon Birmingham.

As for that fire hazard, is it not about time it was hosed away?

Another Fine Mess - Green Loans Program

2010-02-16T23:39:00.002+11:00

AS ONE who has been caught up in the Green Loans debacle, I would like to see a Senate or judicial inquiry. There should also be compensation from the government, to those who have waited months for their accreditation as assessors, to come through and who now find themselves unemployed. As well as for those who have been accredited, but unable to get work because of a cosy deal between the Association of Building Sustainability Assessors and one preferred supplier.

Perhaps a class action from those affected, would at least shine a light on the incompetence of those administering this fiasco.

If the shemozzle that has surrounded the administration of the Green Loans scheme is repeated, in the handling of the proposed emissions trading legislation, then God help the country and the planet.

Greg Thomas, Annandale, NSW

Aussie Assessor Or UK Assessor? It Makes NO DIFFERENCE!

2010-02-16T23:18:00.002+11:00

The last words from the Captain as he deserted the helm were, 'We Are Not Alone'!

"We've got in excess of 13,000 assessors here! We only needed 2000 to 3000!

Prices have been driven down to as low as $50!
The Government originally said $170!
Assessors are going broke!
Trainers have become FAT CATS!

No system in place and no management!

Sorry to confuse you! I am talking about a similar system and outcome in the UK.

DEWHA Breaches 1000's Of Green Loan Assessor's Contracts

2010-02-16T21:33:00.002+11:00

The following email exert, is similar to thousands being sent to DEWHA, by frustrated Green Loans Program Assessors.

"It is now 5 pm and I have been trying to call the Call Centre all day. All I get is an engaged signal. No response last week and the week before. I now put you on notice that you are in breach of the contract. I have not been able to make one appointment since I joined, and became a licensed sustainability assessor. I rang 'Home Health Check', a division of Field Force on, 1800 813 660, and was able to book my brothers house, without a problem. They rang me back in 5 minutes! Gave me a booking number and booked it for 6th March at 7 am.

How is it possible that Field Force Can Book So Quickly, and yet 'we poor sods', the independent assessor's can't even access, the official hot line booking number on 1800 895 076.

I am now going to the ACCC to register a complaint against you under the fair trading legislation. There is insider trading happening here and as I said previously, I believe you are in breach of the contract I signed with you."

Field Force : Dataforce : EnviroSaver Program - Death Of The GLP Assessor!

2010-02-16T20:43:00.002+11:00

Field Force : Dataforce : The EnviroSaver Program!

A program delivering 6000 appointments per week!

Exerts from the Dataforce's case studies web page state:

"Enviro Saver is a free program which helps households reduce their environmental footprint, while also saving money. The Enviro Saver program was developed and is delivered by Fieldforce Services, a leading Australian supplier of metering, billing and data management services to utilities and councils. The solution was based in part of Fieldforce's existing ASAP software, a job-scheduling system which had also been custom-developed by Dataforce for use in Fieldforce's call centre. That system was adapted to support coordination of the energy auditors who visit households to advise on energy-saving changes."

"Additional requirements specific to Enviro Saver also had to be built into the new application – such as multiple administrative sites to allow the multiple agents providing services in regional areas to log in and administer their own parts of the system; and the ability for householders to request and schedule their own appointments."

"The system uses an Oracle database with a web-based application that enables the call centre staff to look up the names and address details of inbound calls, schedule retrofit appointments, and assign appointments to energy auditors in the field."

"Dataforce has continued to work closely with Fieldforce to extend the system's capabilities in response to emerging requirements, making incremental improvements to day-to-day business processes.
The success of the system has enabled Fieldforce to expand its activities under the program to other states, and to handle dramatically increased numbers of appointments."

Click on http://dataforce.com.au/casestudies.html to get the full story or,

Book your FREE EnviroSaver Home Health Check TODAY!

Brisbane Meeting Of Assessors For Affirmative Action

2010-02-16T00:20:00.002+11:00

As most of you would be aware, a group of us gathered on Wednesday and publicly handed in a letter to Kevin Rudd's electorate office. We created a group name "Assessors for Affirmative Action". We highlighted our problems and concerns. Some people also submitted personal letters. We generated media interest (radio, print and TV).

As you are probably aware, the Greens have been very supportive in highlighting our issues. Christine Milne's office issued an update early this morning, to those who have been corresponding with her office. Part of the update includes this

Finding solutions to fix the Green Loans program must now become a key focus. Christine and the Greens, are of the firm view that the Green Loans program is too important to be let fail, not least because the impacts on thousands of Australians like you are far too severe to be simply ignored. You can see Christine's press release on the matter here:

http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/green-loans-scheme-too-important-fail.

Many of you have taken the time to send through possible solutions, which I am now working through to collate them as fast as I can. But the most effective solutions will be ones that have the credibility and authority of you as assessors behind them, as a group. I know there is a poll on the ABSA website suggesting options, and some other threads discussing possibilities. It's time if at all possible for one or a small group of you to put your hand up and help pull that all together, and put it out to as many assessors as possible.

ACTION: - work together to discuss possible solutions; and send us a set of options endorsed by as many of you as possible. That way we can put your group plan to the government.

So, our next gathering will be to focus on the solutions. I have booked the Brisbane City Council City Library from 3:30 - 5:30pm. We will do a workshop using a technique called World Café, to collate a list of solutions from assessors in the Greater Brisbane region. This will be then passed onto Christine Milne's office and Kevin Rudd's electorate office on another date. Afterwards, we can make our way to a cafe / pub to chat further.

So in summary,
Brisbane City Library 266 George Street, Brisbane.
Community Meeting Room - Ground Floor (ask staff for directions).
3:30pm - 5:30pm (social gathering afterwards).
Bring your ideas and solutions!

Cassie McMahon.
Call 0404 677 781

Green Loans Program Assessor Chillout

2010-02-15T23:24:00.009+11:00

Assessors of Australia, you now have this blog and its virtual connections, to let the world know what you think about the current situation. Use the system to maximise the power of a collective voice.

GLP Assessor is taking time away from this blog for a while. Enjoy the power of the internet.

The search engines have earlier today indexed this blog. All posts, twitter tweets and podcasts, will be spreading like a virus over the next few days.

Have Your Say! Post your thoughts TODAY! : ENJOY!

--- Chillout Music ---

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

DEWHA's Green Loan Program Calculation Cracked?

2010-02-15T21:38:00.007+11:00

Assessor's Heads have been burning for a while now, trying to figure out how the Green Loans Program, was ever computed to last for four years, or 360,000 assessments!

With reports of large companies having the advantage of force and leverage, to consume more appointments in one week with 'special email uplinks', to the call centre. Many assessors are left to dream of one or two assessments, before the program fades away!

Now light has been shed on the possible initial calculation, that DEWHA may have used in arriving at 360,000 assessments!

You decide, if this is just to much of a coincidence!

We know one company has 300 assessors.
We hear talk of five assessments per day.

Based on a five day week, for forty eight working weeks per year. We can now calculate the number of assessments!

What is the magic number? Strangely enough its, 360,000!!

If each assessment was worth $85 to the assessor.
Total assessments per year being 1200.
The assessor makes a tidy $102000 working for this large company.

Now whilst you may think this maths is bias, which may be possible! Visit the bottom of this blog and see the original advert for such position, with the same company!

Has DEWHA's Green Loan Program Calculation Been Cracked?

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Good Faith Bad Faith And Ugly Behaviour

2010-02-15T17:52:00.008+11:00

The Implied Duty of “Good Faith” in Australian Contract Law.

This exert taken from an article by Matthew Harper of Murdoch University.

Introduction.

"Australia has not yet committed itself to a definitive principle of good faith in contract law. Unlike the legal systems in Europe and the United States, Australia does not demand an explicit legal prerequisite of good faith to form a contract. Decisions in different jurisdictions have however considered the validity of the values identified in the doctrine of good faith within contract law, such as loyalty, honesty and cooperation. Good faith is valuable because it provides confidence in the formation of contracts between two parties. However there are conflicting views and criticisms of the doctrine of good faith.

The “pragmatic theory of cooperation” underlines the effectiveness of the common law system and emphasises that there is not a need for a clearly defined doctrine of good faith. Economic theory (the “repugnancy thesis of self interest”), goes further and criticises the ability the doctrine holds to oppressively “constrain the pursuit of self interest.” Although the doctrine may be valuable, the ramifications and effects that such a doctrine would create, need to be analysed and evaluated. In addition this essay will explore how established the doctrine of good faith is within Australian contract law.

Requirements To Establish “Good Faith”.

The implied doctrine of good faith is not clearly established within Australian contract law. Therefore there are no clearly defined criteria or requirement to formulate “good faith” in a contractual relationship. Concepts such as cooperation, reasonableness, proper purpose and legitimate interest can at times seem vague, however they are often linked to the implied duty of good faith.

It can be argued that in Australia, identifying “bad faith” in contract law is more feasible than proving “good faith” (or lack thereof). This “excluder” analysis formulates an alternative approach in identifying the traits required to formulate “good faith.” To establish good faith, a variety of values contrary to those which form the basis of “bad faith” need to be accumulated. The economic view still supports the right for individuals to negotiate the best contract. Evaluating these philosophies and relative terms individually enables a closer critique of the doctrine of good faith."

More can be gained about, "The Law on Good faith, Good faith requirements in Australian legislation and judicial interpretation of the concept", by reading Good Faith, Bad Faith Or Ugly Behaviour. A paper prepared by Laura Grant Adrian Teh and Steve Lancken, from Murdoch University.

This information supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Green Loans Program Rorting Does Not Help Honest Assessors

2010-02-15T17:13:00.004+11:00

Is it fair for the honest assessors, to have to put up with these constant rorts, within the Green Loans Program, at their expense?

How a system could ever have been designed, with such minimal commonsense, and planning is beyond belief!

If a system such as this was released in the private sector, the management would be hung drawn and quartered!

Comments such as this one taken from the Sydney Morning Herald's, "Green Loans - A Disaster Story", is a fine example.

The comment made by Ana, being;

"Not only are assessments being rushed through, I suspect some are being completely made up.

I completed assessments on a contract basis for an ex employer, but didn't get paid, so I didn't submit the data. Yet when I asked DEWHA's advice, on what to do with these unsubmitted assessments. They said assessments for those addresses had been submitted and invoiced for, with new booking numbers! This can only have happened if the data was completely fabricated.

I called the householders concerned, to confirm that no-one else had been there to carry out an assessment of their homes. I will provide a copy of what their report should look like, and then we can compare it with what comes through the post. This should be very interesting.

It makes me wonder how many 'assessments' have been invoiced for, which did not even happen. In a few weeks time, perhaps householders across the country, will be receiving HSA reports through the post. Despite the fact that they never agreed to have an assessment carried out, it didn't happen, and they didn't sign a declaration.

The householders will probably ignore the report and throw it away, like so much other junk mail! Unless they have been following the news. The report will certainly not relate to their house!

As it is common knowledge that auditing is not happening, assessor companies (or individuals for that matter), can get away with this. Peter Garrett's defense of the scheme, that it's success can be measured by the rapid uptake, becomes a complete nonsense."

Here, Here, Ana. We could not agree with your comments more. It appears the scheme will be audited long after it has finished!

It is hard to think how a system could have been designed, in a worst case scenario! Or maybe it could not have been! Personally I would have liked to have been in those meetings, to see, to hear and feel the level of discussion and commonsense that went into the planning of one of the greatest green debacles, Australia has seen!

This information edited and supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

ABSA Tone Wheeler : Interview On ABC 'Life Matters' February 15th

2010-02-15T12:07:00.007+11:00

Greens senator Christine Milne, called the federal government's Green Loans program a 'debacle'.

What has gone, so wrong with this scheme? The ABC's Life Matters program speaks to a member of the accrediting board, to get an inside perspective.

Listen to the interview with ABSA's Tone Wheeler, by visiting the ABC's Life Matters page.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Sustainable Green Loan Booking System Ideas Vote

2010-02-13T18:02:00.009+11:00

The existing Green Loans Booking system, is nothing more than a complete failure for all independent assessors. Assessors are faced with lists of householders, but are unable to book these appointments, due to the Call Centre being engaged 100% of the time, for weeks!

YES, it is more than a case of 'contract breach' or Bad Faith by DEWHA. Who stipulate in the agreement, a Call Centre for booking appointments. The reality is that the Call Centre is inaccessible! Even limited common sense, would suggest the call centre is accessible!

Alas this is not the case, and with many emails or phone calls to the Government Department, DEWHA, nothing has changed since early this year! Yes as assessors, we have heard the reports of extra staff. But we still cannot get through, to the call centre, so it makes no difference!

So how do we improve a system that was given little thought in design, and left unmanaged to to run off the road!

Well the best people to ask, are the assessors themselves. Afterall it is they who are faced with the daily chore, of calling a non existent Call Centre!

So as Assessors of the Green Loan Program, add your input to the Green Loans Booking System Ideas, vote now!

It sure has to beat the existing system, that could not be any worse! Even turning off the existing system, would make little difference to many assessors! As far as they are concerned, the system has been turned OFF already, for many WEEKS now!

Missing off this poll, is the idea that no 'lead generation' business could book appointments. Only assessors! Additionally a limit on the size of any assessor business. Without limits, greed and rorting is all too easy, as we know to well.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Melbourne Or Sydney Based Assessor To Speak To Media

2010-02-13T13:02:00.007+11:00

WANTED Melbourne or Sydney based Assessor!

Action is needed now! Are you a Melbourne or Sydney based assessor, willing to talk to the media, in person or anonymously?

If you are, please contact the office of Senator Milne as soon as possible, on 03 6224 8899.

The following exert is taken from an email, received from the Office Of Senator Milne.

Finding solutions to fix the Green Loans program must now become a key focus. Christine and the Greens are of the firm view, that the Green Loans program is too important to be let fail. Not least because the impacts on thousands of Australians like you, are far too severe to be simply ignored.

You can see Christine’s press release on the internet here at, http://bit.ly/savetheglp.

Many of you have taken the time to send through possible solutions, which I am now working through to collate them as fast as I can. But the most effective solutions, will be ones that have the credibility and authority of you, as assessors behind them as a group. I know there is a poll on the ABSA website suggesting options, and some other threads discussing possibilities. Now is the time for one of you, or a small group of you, to put your hand up and help pull it all together.

Help spread this message, to as many assessors as possible.

THE ACTION PLAN IS. To work together to discuss possible solutions, and send us a set of options, endorsed by as many of you as possible. That way we can put your group plan to the government. Forward you email to the Office Of Senator Milne.

This information is edited and supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Forwarding Your Concerns To The Prime Minister's Office

2010-02-13T12:51:00.004+11:00

Action is needed now, in stating assessor's concerns to the Prime Minister's office.

The following exert is taken from an email, received from the Office Of Senator Milne.

Forward your concerns to the Prime Minister’s office. It’s very important now that the Prime Minister, is made aware of the extent and personal harm happening under this program. It will help to maintain and increase the pressure for rapid action. You can email the Prime Minister’s office by going here: http://pm.gov.au/PM_Connect/Email_your_PM. Or you can phone his parliamentary office on, 02 6277 7700 or, 07 3899 4031 for his Queenland electorate office.

The line that many of you are starting to use, 'that DEWHA in not providing you all with a functioning booking service is therefore in breach of contract', is an excellent one.

Remember that polite, honest and factual communications work best.

This information is edited and supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Vote Now : Who Is Responsible For The Green Loans Debacle

2010-02-13T10:56:00.004+11:00

Who do you think is responsible for the current state of the Green Loan Program.

Have you say, make your vote count!

Add a link to this poll, from your website or social network by linking to this post.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Green Loans Program Under Fire Video From ABC Stateline

2010-02-13T09:58:00.007+11:00

The Green Loans Program is again Under Fire in this video, by ABC Stateline in South Australia.

All the truths that assessors are aware of, are discussed.

In the video are:

Senator Christine Milne.
Assessor Wayne Moran.

The video focusses on assessor's common frustrations and issues, of the Green Loans Program. Such as:

Field Force's Booking System.
Late Reports.
Call Centre Engaged, 100% For Weeks.
Only 5 Appointments Booked, Per Call.

This video is brought to you by ABC Stateline South Australia. This is an excellent video that needs to be shared, on all social networks, facebook & Twitter.

Watch the video Green Loans Program Under Fire.

Whilst we are talking 'fire', make sure you check out the Green Loans Progam 'Heads On Fire' lyrics, posted on this blog.

Thank you to Senator Christine Milne and Assessor Wayne Moran, for helping increase awareness, and fight the injustice. Make sure you follow Senator Milne on Twitter.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Assessors Unite To Create Awareness Of Their Plight

2010-02-13T09:00:00.003+11:00

No Assessor, is too happy with the current outcome, of the Green Loans Program.

As a collective we need as much ammunition as possible, to create awareness of our plight!

The Green Loans Program & it's Assessors were managed by two parties. DEWHA & ABSA. Either one, or both are responsible for this debacle! Both parties cannot keep on blaming the other!

Let us not forget what we were told, about the total number of assessors being capped! As this has simply not happened!

As a body of 5000 or 10000 Assessors of course we have POWER! Lot's of it! We need to 'Use It'. Or stop crying over spilt milk!

Pass the links on this blog to everyone. Your clients, your fellow assessors. This information will eventually fall into the hands of those with extreme power, those wishing to help us fight our cause!

No assessor should be out of pocket due to the incompetence of DEWHA & ABSA.

Remember who allowed the Green Loans Scheme to get into such a debacle! Both parties are responsible!

It's Your Income, Your Career At Risk!

If you are an assessor, ask yourself what you are doing to fight the cause? What can you do to help with this awareness campaign?

To all those assessors already fighting the injustice of the Green Loans Program. We say Thank You!

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

OK I Am Ready To Sue DEWHA : Broken Contract

2010-02-12T15:56:00.004+11:00

I hear that Field Farce, is still booking in 6000 appointments.

I read that the appointment numbers are 400,000+

I have 6 appointments from last week.

6 from this week.

If I do get through to the Call Centre, being allowed to only book 5 appointments, when do I book the other 7, next week the week after.

That term a 'Fair Go' has been deleted from the dictionary by DEWHA's bad mismanagement.

I have not been able to get through to the Green Loans Booking Centre for over a week now!

Sheryl

Coconut Shy Starts To Tremble : Heads To Fall

2010-02-12T13:57:00.007+11:00

Coconut Shy. A game consisting of throwing wooden balls, at a 'row of coconuts' balanced on posts.

Typically a player buys three balls and wins each coconut, when it's successfully dislodged.

The rules in this scenario have been changed, whereby the stricken coconut is placed back on top of the post for the next contestant to knock off again.

Shout the name of your targeted coconut, LOUDLY BEFORE AIMING!

Pressure Mounts On Peter Garrett - Rorting Of Green Loan Scheme

2010-02-12T13:49:00.006+11:00

Pressure mounts on Peter Garrett, as entrepreneur slams “rorting” of Green Loan scheme.

Pressure on Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett is increasing, with the Opposition calling for his resignation. And another green entrepreneur declaring the Green Loans scheme has been affected by "greed and rorting". Read the full story here.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Assessor Numbers : ABSA Update : Current situation of the Green Loans Program.

2010-02-12T13:02:00.005+11:00

ABSA Update Information - Assessor Numbers.

In the interests of keeping you all up-to-date, the latest assessor statistics are as follows,

Total applications received, 9522.

Assessor (HO) numbers issued by 11th February 2010, 6979.

The remaining applicants have either withdrawn, arrived after the closing date or have missing or inaccurate information.

Green Loans Booking System.

We are aware of the great dissatisfaction and distress amongst our members, with the current operation of the Green Loans hotline. We also share your frustrations regarding the uncertainty of the future of the Green Loans program.

Unfortunately we are unable to answer questions, concerning these serious issues.

Like our members, ABSA’s source of information regarding the intentions and actions of DEWHA, about the future of the Green Loans scheme, are media reports and official government transcripts, from Question Time and the recent Senate estimates hearings, which are a matter of public record and available at www.aph.gov.au.

ABSA have sought to clarify our role in the Green Loans program, through updates on its Home Sustainability Assessment Scheme website – www.hsas.net.au.

We urge you to refer to this website to gain an understanding of the role of ABSA, in the overall Home Sustainability Assessment Scheme, of which Green Loans is a part. The scheme was developed and funded by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), which is also solely responsible for the operation of the Green Loans booking hotline, reporting and invoices.

We ask for your continued patience, while we all await a decision from DEWHA on the future of the Green Loans program.

Alison Carmichael.

CEO, Association of Building Sustainability Assessors.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Assessors Email On The Green Loan Program Debacle

2010-02-12T11:49:00.008+11:00

Home Sustainability Assessors involved in the Green Loans Program, are spending their days, hanging on the phone and writing emails.

Stuck on the phone trying to get through to a Call Centre, that for many, is engaged 100% of the time, and has been for weeks. It is not uncommon for assessors to simply not get through! Therefore appointments are not getting booked, meaning no assessments taken!

GLP Assessor, has not been able to get through to the call centre, since the 2nd of February. This surely has to be a case of Bad Faith, being offered by DEWHA, when one reads the contract, that assessors signed.

There are hundred if not thousands of emails been sent by assessors all over Australia, on a daily basis. Voicing their frustration on a broken system, that has been created due to mis-management, by those parties involved.

A common daily scenario for many assessors, is summed up in this brief email that was emailed to all departments, media, Government officials and the Ombudsman.

I am a Green Loans Assessor who has work available, but cannot work because I cannot get my jobs booked into the call centre, booking service. Despite redialing endlessly, just trying to get into the phone queue.

I also cannot invoice for work I have already completed. Because the work I was told to continue doing, when your booking service was shut, has still not been assigned booking numbers to invoice with. Even when I do have booking numbers for work completed, I cannot get my invoices paid within the 30 days stated on my contract with you.

You are not allowing me to work. There is a big difference between the "No guarentee of work" I agreed to, under the terms of the contract I signed. And not allowing me to work due to the complete failure, of the systems you agreed to supply to all assessors.

These 'systems' included a working booking system, and then an online booking system. Yes you supplied an online booking system for a time, TO ONE COMPANY ONLY.

This was at the expense of all smaller operators, who trusted you to provide a fair and level playing field, to everyone who made "a commercial decision". To risk our money and time, to enter a new fledging business area. Had we been aware of all the relevant information as stated, many of us may have made a different decision.

Yours sincerely, Green Loans Assessor

GLP Assessor would like to hear from legal representatives dealing with BAD FAITH in a legal contract. Contact GLP Assessor on this site for more information.

This information is supplied and edited by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Green Loans Scheme Too Important To Fail

2010-02-12T11:26:00.003+11:00

Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne

Thursday 11th February 2010, 3:31pm

Energy Efficiency

The Green Loans Scheme is a critically important step in building Australia's green economy, creating jobs for the future and saving householders money. It is too important to be allowed to fail.

Following the his moves to fix problems the insulation roll-out over recent days, Miniter Garrett must now urgently move to fix the problems besetting the Green Loans Scheme.

The Green Loans scheme is an excellent idea gone badly awry, but it can be fixed if the Minister turns his attention to it," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne said.

The Prime Minister must get personally involved in order to fix this debacle which, alongside the insulation roll-out and the rooftop solar bungling, is costing lives and livelihoods across the country.

I am offering to work with the industry bodies, small business people, concerned individuals and the government to work out the best and most appropriate long term fix.

It is clear that Mr Garrett has to immediately instruct his department to roll out an up-to-scratch nationally accredited training program.

He must give the call centre adequate funding to operate effectively and ensure that the online booking system is brought online.

Given the fabulous community demand, he must adequately fund the program to match that demand.

And he must make sure that the program is fair, ensuring that no one company or group has greater access to bookings than any other.

There are big unanswered questions as to how this can be made to work, but with the right will I am convinced it can.

The fabulous project of greening Australia's homes and jobs is too important to be allowed to fail."

Senator Milne was joined today at Parliament by two assessors from the Canberra community, Rob May and Robert Sanchez, both of who are calling for the government to urgently fix the Green Loans program.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Fading Star : Peter Garrett In Trouble Over GLP

2010-02-11T22:51:00.005+11:00

Peter Garrett. Photo: Jacky Ghossein

Damage control rarely makes for comfortable viewing. And so it proved with Environment Minister Peter Garrett, as it took the form of an unusually tall man peering over the heads of a roomful of reporters to seek meaningful connection with a bank of television cameras.

His oversized hands moved restlessly, emphasising key points amid the waterfall of words intended to stem the sense of crisis in his portfolio. It is a crisis made up of bungled solar rebates and ''green'' loans for households, tragically underlined by deaths linked to the government's ceiling insulation program.

Read the full article by Katharine Murphy & Tom Arup on The Sydney Morning Herald's website.

Green Loans Program : Heads On Fire Lyrics

2010-02-11T17:27:00.009+11:00

Now here is a great lyric, to sing along with Johnny Cash's, Ring Of Fire!

Johnny Cash's lyrics are:

I fell into a burning ring of fire,
I went down, down, down,
And the flames went higher,
And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

The Green Loans Program's, 'Heads On Fire' Lyrics are:

Burn, Burn, Burn, My Heads On Fire.
This System Is Dire.

When Will I Get, Through On The Phone?
To Wait, To Get Cut Off! As They Go Home!

This Is Not What, I Signed Up For Dewha?
Watching My Livelihood, Go Down The Sewer!

Nothing Is Being Done, As Bookings Go Higher.
Am I Led To Believe, Someone's A, ****ing Liar!

As I Know The Real Truth, It's What Dewha Said.
Capping Assessors, Not Shooting Them, In The Head?

It's To Be Expected, From A Department Said Asleep!
With Various Initiatives, All Floundering, Or Weak!

As Assessors We Would Change It, If We Could.
Who Is Responsible, Mr. Garrett Or, Mr. Rudd?

It's The End Of Another Day, With No Bookings Made.
Yes I Am Disallusioned, As My Career Fades.

So It's Burn, Burn, Burn, My Heads On Fire.
This System Is Dire!

Please help to make every unhappy Assessor, smile again, by sharing these lyrics!

This information is supplied and copyrighted by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.

Peter Garrett Asleep On The Job

2010-02-11T16:04:00.003+11:00

GLP Assessor has found this disturbing yet funny video on YouTube.

The title of the video is "Peter Garrett Asleep On The Job with The Green Sower". Interesting alright, as it clearly shows Peter asleep, with the date of the video being February 2009!

So what has happened since then?
Is this a case of the 365 day sleep?

Click to watch Peter Garrett Asleep On The Job With The Green Sower.

Somethings Never Change...... And we wonder why there are problems.

GLP Crapper Sustainability

2010-02-11T14:11:00.003+11:00

The Green Loan Program Crapper design posted on this site, just goes to show what excellent minds do, whilst waiting in limbo for the call centre to answer our calls.

I was thinking of re-designing your GLP Crapper to a three storey design!

I would envisage the final design to be:

- Top Floor Assessors
- Mid Floor DEWHA
- Ground Floor ABSA

What would be the result of 10000 assessors reflecting on the outcome of the failed Green Loans Program, during a 10 minute visit to the ablution block?

Well between the hours of 9 to 5, this would mean:

The SHIT would fall upon the guilty for the next 208 days or 42 working weeks!

How Does That Feel?

The irony of this is.... The number of days the guilty would have to suffer, is approximately the same time their failed program lasted for! Classic!

Chatroom For Green Loans Program Assessors

2010-02-11T13:47:00.006+11:00

GLP Assessor is proud to announce the launch of a chatroom for Green Loans Program Assessors. Share your thoughts with other assessors, who are more than unhappy with the current state of the Green Loans Program Debacle.

The link to this chatroom, can be found in the menu bar of the Greeen Loans Program Assessor blog. Visit this site at http://glpassessor.blogpost.com.

A shortened link for use in Twitter is http://bit.ly/glpchat.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Green Loans Call Centre Engaged At 9.00

2010-02-11T09:02:00.005+11:00

Thousands of Home Sustainability Assessors CANNOT BOOK APPOINTMENTS! WHY?

The current state of the Green Loans Call Centre reports the centre closed up to 9.00 am. At 9 oclock the call centre is engaged! This kind of system is a FAILURE on DEWHA's behalf!

Assessors are having to sit on the phone all day! Assessors are reporting making hundreds of calls, then to get cut off after 17.00! After hours of waiting!

Today eight calls were made from 8:58 to 9:00. At 9:00 [Synchronised with Radio National's News Call], the Call Centre goes to ENGAGED!

Heads Are Burning Peter! - Would hours before 9 oclock or after 5 oclock be of use! Why are YOU letting this DEBACLE repeat itself week after week! We have had problems making calls to the Green Loan Call Centre since the logical decision to upgrade a live booking system, in the FIRST WEEK OF THE YEAR!

Could you do your job without a phone? Or access to your dept. your fellow Senators!

How can we do our job Peter? Were we in fact fooled into signing a contract with DEWHA that is un-workable! The is a scent of BAD FAITH here, on DEWHA's behalf!

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

The Questions We Never Get Answered

2010-02-10T18:46:00.004+11:00

In the ABSA forum a question about accreditation fees arose. The answer was stunning enough to post here:

Quote:Hi there,

All members pay $220.00.

Stephen Gallagher.

It is good to know there is a refund on the way to all assessors! At least 5000 x 440 = $2.2Million. Not 4 Profit so no problem!

Why is it that the input from ABSA / DEWHA is just, well to hot to handle!

Goto the forum and seek topic 'The Questions We Never Get Answered'.

Petition For GLP Investigation & Relaunch

2010-02-10T18:14:00.003+11:00

Released is a petition to investigate & relaunch the Green Loans Program.

Assessors call on the Prime Minister of Australia to:

1. Investigate why more diligent monitoring of the program did not occur.

2. Have the program re-established with proper checks and balances including.

independent assessor testing.
monitoring the quality of assessments.
accepting only existing assessors to undertake Certificate IV training.
capping how many assessments each assessor may undertake each week.

3. Establish a genuine first in, first served booking system - be it online or via a sufficiently well staffed call centre.

You can join the petition by visiting this link, Investigate & Re-Launch The GLP.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Do You Want To Be A GLP Millionaire?

2010-02-10T17:22:00.003+11:00

30 per cent or 61,500 of all the assessment bookings so far, have been allocated to Field Force. Field Force has 385 assessors on its books, or 7.7 per cent of all the assessors in the Green Loan Scheme.

That is $12,300,000 - Were any Assessors ever informed that out of the 1000 to 2000 assessors, a large number were already allocated for at Field Farce?

Anyone can buy SPECIAL TREATMENT with $12,300,000!

With that kind of greed, designed and built into the Green Loan Program's system from the offset, those firewalls in front of those responsible are starting to look VERY THIN!

More & more ammunition for the CLASS ACTION.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Peter Garrett's Response To Criticism Of The GLP

2010-02-10T16:53:00.006+11:00

Last week Radio National's Life Matters program, spoke to Greens Senator Christine Milne about her concerns with the administration, of the Federal Government's Green Loans scheme. She called it 'a debacle'.

Since then Life Matters has been contacted by dozens of assessors and homeowners, who support the claims of maladministration.

Here is the download link to the podcast of Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett's, response to the criticism of the scheme.

GLP Assessor notes that discussion as of late, is turning into a game of tennis between DEWHA & ABSA, with each blaming the other. At the end of the day what we would like to say is, Peter we were told there was going to be a 1000 to 2000 assessors maximum. You seem to be hiding behind this simple fact!

Your caculations for a program over four years would have not used figures of 5000 or even 10000! Are you therefore admitting your mathematics was based on 1000 to 2000? If we assume your mathematics were correct, then this leaves your management of the scheme to be questionable! Either way Peter, you, DEWHA & ABSA are responsible for leading us, Home Sustainability Assessors of Australia, up the garden path on this one!

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Peter Garrett MEDIA RELEASE: Green Loans Program

2010-02-10T11:38:00.002+11:00

Yesterday I instructed the Secretary of my Department, to immediately implement an independent external process of inquiry. Specifically in relation to all contractual agreements and procurement processes, entered into during the final design and implementation of the Green Loans program.

That inquiry will build on a process already underway, to immediately audit the assessor accreditation process. And adherence to the terms of the Protocol for Assessor Accrediting Organisations, between the Department and the accrediting organisation.

This is being conducted by external audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Department is also urgently working to address other specific concerns including call centre wait times, and resourcing.

It clear that some elements of the program are not working as effectively as they should. In particular, it is clear there is room for improvement in relation to the call centre for assessor and householder bookings, as well as to speed up the issuing of household assessment reports.

The Green Loans is a popular program with more than 205,000 household assessments booked to date. And over 140,000 assessments already completed. Many people have also undergone training to qualify as a home sustainability assessor.

The Green Loans program offers the opportunity for households to get advice on the best, most effective ways to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. It is about helping households save money and reduce their environmental impact.

It also offers the chance for people to gain new skills in conducting household sustainability assessments.

The Green Loans program is well on the way to delivering on the commitment to 360,000 household assessments, but I will not hesitate to make any changes necessary to ensure its effective rollout.

On Behalf Of The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP - Environment media releases.

CLASS ACTION Against Green Loans Program

2010-02-10T11:03:00.008+11:00

Home Sustainability Assessor's unite! We are much stronger as a large single national group, than as many state based splinter groups.

This action website www.sustainabilityassessorsaustralia.com.au will give you a chance to join the largest single group of assessors in Australia, and one that is growing every day.

What does registration with this group mean?

Registration means that you have indicated to the organisers that you want to be kept informed about any proposed action/s and given the opportunity to decide to join or decline to join that particular action.

There are many things that we can do and it will be done more effectively when we have 1,000 registrants. So currently we are building up our numbers. We would like your help to achieve this target.

We now have a state and territory leader in every state and ACT.

We are setting up our website to be truly informative so that you don’t have to go to DEWHA, ABSA, the media, politicians webpages, facebook, ABSA forum, twitter, etc. To keep up with the news. We will have it all.

How can we promise that? We are appointing assessors to do individual tasks such as watching one source and reporting to our webmaster so that he can upload it onto our site. We have assessors who are contacting other assessors to make them aware of the site and encouraging them to join.

There is no cost to register only benefits.

We have wrongly been branded as a class action group. This is but one of many actions that could be taken and hopefully a class action will not be needed but we should be prepared to consider it if it looks as though all else will fail or we cannot get the compensation that many are due to receive for the terrible mismanagement of the GLP.

Actions will therefore be decided democratically. If a proposed action is suggested and receives no or little support, it would not be carried out. What would be the point as it would not succeed without a large number of assessors supporting it. So therefore you will have a say in what actions should or should not proceed.

The Sustainability Assessor Australia website is developing other future initiatives, to give HSA’s an opportunity to earn extra money over and above what is possible through DEWHA.

Get with the strength. Join 'SAA' today!

The Senate : February 9th

2010-02-09T21:54:00.003+11:00

HOME SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSORS AND THE GREEN LOANS PROGRAM.

Senator MILNE (Tasmania) (4.06 pm) - I move that the Senate -

(a) notes, with grave concern that:

(i) several thousand Home Sustainability Assessors under the Government’s Green Loan Program, (the program), have been denied any work for more than one month since Christmas 2009. Due to the mismanaged shutdown of the program’s phone booking service, leaving many in severe financial hardship, and (ii) the company Fieldforce, has consistently received preferential treatment, including being allowed to book as much work as it wanted during the shutdown period, despite thousands of other assessors being forced to go without work; and (b) calls on the Government to:

(i) immediately provide clear and accurate information to the thousands of assessors regarding their ongoing work prospects, (ii) reveal immediately the special conditions and treatment being offered to Fieldforce, and (iii) review the program so that it provides a credible program, ensuring ongoing work for those Australians who have invested to become Home Sustainability Assessors, on the back of the Government’s assurances.

Senator LUDWIG (Queensland—Special Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary) (4.06 pm)—The government does have a response in relation to as to why we it will not support the motion. I seek leave to incorporate the statement.

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows:

There has been a significant increase in the number of new Home Sustainability Assessments booked since 11 January, and the Department of the Environment has allocated significant additional resources to process these bookings.

Since 11 January 2010, over 24,000 calls have been received and over 50,000 new bookings processed.

Response to claim of special conditions being offered to Field Force":

Fieldforce is the single largest operator under the Green Loans Program, and to accommodate this, they make bulk bookings which are processed by the Department once a week.

These bookings are subject to a weekly limit, in order to ensure there is adequate work for all assessors.

Jobs are available to all assessors, whether they are individuals or part of a company.

Over half the assessors contracted to the Department (59 per cent) choose to operate as sole traders, and are provided with bookings generated via the call centre. Work is allocated equitably.

Ongoing work for assessors:

The Green Loans program does not guarantee work for assessment companies or individuals, and each contract makes this clear.

The Government made a commitment to deliver up to 360,000 home sustainability assessments through Green Loans, and this is being delivered.

The Government understands that it is important for assessors to receive up to date information about the increasing demand for assessments, and this was done through newsletters eight times between September and December last year, and has been done another five times this year already.

The Government will consider the future of the Green Loans program in the context of budget deliberations.

Question agreed to.

Senator O’BRIEN (Tasmania) (4.06 pm) : I seek leave to make a brief statement.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT : Leave is granted for two minutes.

Senator O’BRIEN : Again, the government recognise that Senator Milne, with the support of the opposition, has the numbers for this motion. We oppose it but we will not be calling a division.

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Assessors Podcasts For Mobile Devices

2010-02-09T11:02:00.003+11:00

Now you can easily listen to the GLP Assessor blog posts, via podcast on your chosen mobile device. Simply add the 'blog's podcast mobi link', listed on the blog, to your mobile device's browser.

All the GLP Assessor blog posts, are accessible via podcast on your IPhone / MP3 Player.

GLP Assessor on blogger and twitter, creating awareness to the plight of the Home Sustainability Assessors, involved with the Green Loan Program.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.

Assessors Voice Opinion With Podcasts

2010-02-09T10:30:00.006+11:00

Home Sustainability Assessors around Australia, unite! Assessors not happy with the current situation, regarding the Australian Government's Green Loan Program, are now using podcasts, in an effort too get their collective voice of complaint heard!

Assessors now have the chance to easily post their comments, thoughts and findings to a blog at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com. Posts on this blog, are converted into podcasts. Podcasts that are easily listened to, whilst on the go, by everyone!

This system allows all Australians to tune into the plight of the Home Sustainability Assessor. Assessors who at this current time, are unable to make 'a fair go' of what they were led to believe, was a viable business idea by the Australian Government.

Make sure you visit GLP Assessor on blogger at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com, to subscribe to all the latest podcasts on the the Green Loans Program Debacle. Visit Twitter and follow GLP Assessor.

All Australians need to show support for our independent Home Sustainability Assessors.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at http://glpassessor.blogspot.com.