The green energy sector has warned that hundreds of workers could lose their jobs because of the delay. The Senate has put off a vote on the renewable energy target scheme until August at the earliest.

It's a problem for the Government, which is struggling to get its climate change agenda implemented. The two main policies the renewable energy target and the emissions trading scheme are both likely to be held up in the Senate.

And it's a problem for households that want to go solar. Last week the Government axed the $8000 rebate for solar panels. A smaller rebate will not start until the renewable energy laws have passed Parliament. The Government had planned for that to happen next week, but the Coalition, Family First senator Steve Fielding and Independent Nick Xenophon scotched that plan in the Senate.

The chief executive of the Clean Energy Council, Matthew Warren, said hundreds of workers could be laid off immediately as a result.

''Clean energy companies around Australia will now put hiring plans on hold and in some cases be forced to start shedding staff,'' he said.

Mr Warren said the renewable energy laws should have been passed a year ago. The Government promised the target 20 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020 before the last election. But the laws were tabled in Parliament only on Wednesday.

The Government has linked the target to the controversial emissions trading scheme. Adding to the controversy is the fact the Government changed the solar rebate twice in a year before axing it, only to replace it with a third rebate.

Senator Wong attacked the Coalition for delaying action on global warming. She defended the decision to end the old rebate.

''It was the fiscally responsible thing to do,'' she said.