Ripping more than half a billion dollars from funding for clean energy projects will hit Queensland  jobs and the state’s renewables sector hard, Senator Larissa Waters has said.

“Ripping $500 million in grants for cutting edge renewable energy projects will be devastating for Queensland,” Senator Waters said.

“Right when our state needs more support from the Federal Government, Labor and the Liberals gang up to gut ARENA.

Greens Deputy Leader and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters today said the 1,172 Queensland jobs funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency via grants to large-scale solar projects show that Labor and LNP must abandon the planned $1 billion cut to the agency. 

"Today's funding announcement from ARENA shows that cutting clean energy grants would be irresponsible and stupid.

"This money will mean 1,172 direct jobs will be created in regional Queensland, many in areas affected by the decline of the coal and gas industry."  

The Greens condemn the Turnbull Government plan, announced today, to rip more than $1 billion from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency as soon as Parliament returns and Labor's failure this morning to rule out passing the cut. 

On RN Breakfast this morning, Chris Bowen refused to commit Labor to blocking the gutting of ARENA. 

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, Senator Larissa Waters, said:

In response to Environment & Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg’s comments that he will proceed with the $1.3 billion cut to ARENA grant funding, Greens Energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP called on Labor to abandon its support for the Liberals’ funding cuts.

“Labor must drop its election cut to ARENA and put out Josh Frydenberg’s renewable bonfire,” Mr Bandt said.

“The make up of the new Senate means we have an opportunity to protect the $1.3 billion of ARENA funding the Coalition wants to cut, but Labor needs to get on board.”

With coral reef scientists left to beg the Prime Minister Turnbull to stop putting fossil fuels ahead of the Reef, it's never been more important to vote for the Reef.

"This election falls at a critical time for the survival of our Great Barrier Reef," Qld Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader, said.

"The old parties are ignoring Reef scientists and instead are putting their fossil fuel donors ahead of the Reef and the 69 000 people who rely on the its health for their job.

The Government's announcement today of $100 million per year for green cities taken from Clean Energy Finance Corporation, is its third attempt to rebadge existing CEFC funding while cutting $1.3 billion from ARENA and leaving fossil fuel subsidies untouched. 

Greens Sustainable Cities spokesperson, Scott Ludlam, said:

"Green cities are a massive opportunity, not a cheap slogan. The Greens will continue to work for cleaner and more energy efficient neighbourhoods without the senseless sting in the tail that Mr Turnbull is inflicting today."

Australia's whole stock of public and community housing would be retrofitted with solar panels to ease power bills for low income earners and make them more comfortable to live in, under a Greens plan announced today.

The nationwide upgrade of Australia's 421,000 public and community dwellings by 2030 would cost $2000 per house to install a 2Kw solar PV system,  energy efficient appliances, as part of a host of refurbishments to make the homes cheaper to run and more comfortable to live in.

The Australian Greens are calling on Labor to rule out funding fossil fuel projects from the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

Qld Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said:

“While Labor is putting aside a fifth of the fund for tourism, it hasn’t ruled out the other $4 billion of taxpayer money going to fossil fuel projects.