Labor’s energy crisis hits families in Dawson
THE HON DAN TEHAN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR ENERGY AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION
ANDREW WILLCOX
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR MANUFACTURING AND SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR DAWSON
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
SHOCKING new data has revealed the impact the Albanese Labor Government’s disastrous energy policies are having on local families.
According to the Australian Energy Regulator, 37,122 households in Queensland were unable to pay their power bills over the period of October to December 2025.
Since Labor was elected in 2022, an additional 18,732 households have recorded hardship: this represents a staggering 102 per cent increase from when the Coalition was in office. Nationally, 230,000 households are in energy distress, which is an increase of nearly 70 per cent in just 3.5 years and the highest level of hardship on record.
Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Dan Tehan, said the federal government’s energy policies had failed to deliver affordable energy.
“Under Labor, power bills are up nearly 40 per cent because the government has chosen to rip the guts out of our energy system,” Mr Tehan said.
“A lack of baseload power and sufficient supply is pushing up prices; that is showing up as higher prices every time Australians open their power bill. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to cut power bills by $275, but Australian households have not seen that promised reduction.”
Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, said the energy crisis was heaping pressure on local households.
“With inflation and interest rates rising as well as power bills, my office has been inundated with locals telling me they’re at breaking point. It’s heartbreaking,” Mr Willcox said.
“Behind this new data are people in our community who are really struggling to make ends meet, yet all they get from the federal government are broken promises.”
As the Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability, Mr Willcox said the current energy crisis is creating a multiplied effect for major industrial users who are already struggling to keep their factories operational.
"The current fuel crisis is a stark reminder of why national sovereignty is vital: yet this Labor government fails to recognise the danger or take the necessary action to protect our independence.
“We have already seen the car industry disintegrate, and now manufacturing across many other sectors is at risk; we must prioritise being a self-sufficient nation that makes our own products here in Australia.
“I’ll keep fighting for a more stable, reliable energy grid that puts the needs of Australians first, not one-size-fits-all mandates and targets that we can’t practically achieve.”
ENDS
Caption: Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, says that record energy hardship is impacting thousands of Queensland households and businesses.
Contact:
Tehan: William Spence – 0438 206 222
Willcox: Amanda Wright | Media & Communications Adviser
P | 07 4944 0662 M | 0455 456 705 E | Amanda.Wright@aph.gov.au