Environment Minister Peter Garrett says the federal government's controversial solar rebate program is growing fast.
He said today applications for the $8000 rebate have grown at significant levels since the federal budget.
The opposition relentlessly attacked the government for means testing the rebate.
"We've seen record growth in the number of solar rebate applications lodged since the government acted on budget night to better target the rebate to those earning less than $100,000," Mr Garrett said in a statement.
"An average of 522 applications have been lodged weekly since the budget with 794 in one week alone."
Mr Garrett said this rate of application was higher than in any single week before the budget throughout the program's history and was 150 applications per week higher than the average in the four weeks before the budget.
It was far beyond the average of 30 weekly applications at the time of the last coalition budget, he said.
"This confirms that the government took the right step in bringing funds forward for this program and ensuring that they go to those Australian families that most need financial assistance to install solar systems in their homes," Mr Garrett said.
"Despite the scaremongering of the opposition, in the 10 weeks since the budget we have seen continuing solid demand for this program and I am confident that will continue."
