Taking a Stand – No to Net Zero
OPINION
The Albanese government is somewhat reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz. Full of promises, flashy sound bites and bright lights. But behind the curtain, there’s not a lot there. Six months into a second Albanese term, the biggest illusion of all is being exposed. Net Zero at all costs, supposedly for the good of the planet, has not been working out so well for our country.
Labor has spent billions of taxpayer dollars on wind-and-solar-only schemes that have torn up farmland, destroyed native vegetation, and delivered almost no measurable change in emissions. Australia’s emissions are still hovering around the same level they were in 2022 when Labor took office. Meanwhile, the cost of power has skyrocketed, hitting every line of the family budget.
Australians were told Labor’s Net Zero crusade would bring cheaper energy and secure jobs. Instead, power bills are soaring, industries are collapsing, and families are struggling.
Across Dawson, people tell me the same story. The cost of electricity is crushing. Even those on good incomes are finding it hard to stomach their bills, while pensioners and those on fixed incomes are simply going without.
The latest victim of Labor’s emissions madness is the Tomago Aluminium smelter. Just months after Prime Minister Albanese declared workers’ jobs were “safe” for the long term, the plant is now in crisis. More than a thousand workers face uncertainty as another one of our national smelters buckles under energy costs that have become impossible to bear.
Labor’s energy policies have driven prices so high that our heavy industries are finding it extremely challenging to remain viable. The government has already bailed out Whyalla, Nyrstar and Glencore, and now Tomago is next in line. Even Minister for Industry, Tim Ayres, admitted power prices were a primary factor in the smelter’s hardships, confirming yet another taxpayer-funded bailout is on the cards. While it is imperative that we keep our sovereign assets operational, bailouts are not the long-term answer, because if nothing is done to address the energy issues, a lineup for handouts will ensue, and eventually, the same operators will require a second and third helping.
And while Labor writes cheques to big business, it’s everyday Australians who are left behind. The Prime Minister promised every household a $275 cut in power bills. Instead, electricity costs have surged nearly 40 per cent since Labor took office. Not to forget that Labor’s quarterly $75 energy bill relief is ending, meaning households will need to find an extra $300 next year, just to stand still.
The Nationals have voted and we are taking a stand against Labor’s reckless pursuit of Net Zero by 2050. The costs are proving to be too high, and the outcomes are not what was promised. The Nationals have withdrawn support for Net Zero because households and our economy must be the priority. We still support practical, low-emission technologies, but not at any cost and not at the expense of jobs, industry, and the Australian way of life.
You can’t feed a family on ideology. You can’t cool a home with political spin. You can’t run a business on wishes.
We need reliable, affordable power for our families and industries alike. Australian households must come before symbolism, and until there is a change, Australians will keep paying the price for Labor’s fantasy. Australians must come first.
ENDS
Contact: Amanda Wright | Media & Communications Adviser
P | 07 4944 0662 M | 0455 456 705 E | Amanda.Wright@aph.gov.au