Australian PM says renewable energy fund to be brought forward

CANBERRA, Dec. 14 (Chinese media) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Sunday a 500 million-dollar (320 million U.S. dollars) renewable energy fund to kick-start clean power plants across Australia will be brought forward.

The fund, originally to be spent over six years starting in 2009, will instead be invested over 18 months from 2009.

Rudd told reporters while inspecting a new solar farm at Windorah in western Queensland that the fund would stimulate the economy and help fight climate change.

"It's time for Australia to begin the solar revolution, a renewable energy revolution and we have got to fund it for the future" Australian Associated Press quoted him as saying.

"It's good for jobs, it's good for stimulus, it's good for acting on climate change. That's what we are on about here," he added.

Rudd will unveil the government's white paper on the carbon pollution reduction scheme on Monday.