The Australian Energy Council's CEO Survey released this week reveals that even the executives driving the so-called transition know net zero is unachievable and will impose punishing costs on those who can least afford it.
With state Liberal politicians continuing to back expensive net zero fantasies, the news has made Family First more determined to offer South Australian, Victorian and New South voters candidates who will fight to take the pressure off families.
Families already struggling with skyrocketing electricity bills are being pushed to the brink — and now Australia's own energy industry leaders are sounding the alarm.
One CEO bluntly warns that the transition is already hurting vulnerable households:
"It's disproportionately going to hit the poor in this country … it rarely gets talked about because it's an inconvenient truth … if you've got 9 megawatts usage at home and no solar system you're wearing 9 megawatts of all the price increases in networks." — Retail CEO, p. 19
Crucially, a 'gentailer' CEO admits the transition isn't on track — even as governments continue to shut down coal:
"It's important because we're not on track to achieve net-zero and renewable-energy targets, but we are on track with coal closures, so there's a gap emerging … Without secure, affordable gas supply we're going to come up short, and that's going to lead to a lot of instability, insecurity in the market." — Gentailer CEO, p. 17
These warnings confirm what Family First has long argued: the "energy transition" is not free, not feasible and not fair.
It is placing enormous pressure on household budgets, small and family businesses, pushing industries offshore and robbing Australians of reliable, affordable power.
The report confirms that the people paying the highest price are low-income families and those without rooftop solar. Yet these people are subsidising the rich who can afford rooftop solar.
Despite these explicit warnings from industry leaders, State Liberal politicians remain welded to net zero.
This is why it is essential that Deepa Mathew (SA), Jane Foreman (VIC) and Lyle Shelton (NSW) are elected at the upcoming state elections.
Family First candidates will fight to stop unaffordable net-zero mandates, keep reliable energy in the system and take the pressure off families who simply cannot absorb higher costs.
Family First believes energy policy must be grounded in engineering, economics and the wellbeing of families — not ideology.
Voters should not be fooled by the Federal Coalition's policy change. It's the states that operate electricity generation and so far state Liberals lack the courage to ditch net zero despite the evidence it does not work.
As the CEOs themselves now admit, Australia cannot afford the path we are on.
