Family First Upper House candidate Deepa Mathew says South Australian families struggling under the nation's highest power prices cannot trust the Liberals to provide relief, after the party confirmed it will go to the March 21 election committed to net zero — the most expensive and unreliable form of electricity generation in the world.
"Instead of standing up for households crushed by rising power bills, the Liberals are doubling down on the very policy — net zero — that has made electricity expensive, unreliable, and completely unaffordable for many families," Ms Mathew said.
Unlike the federal Liberals, who have dumped net zero, the SA Liberals have chosen to keep not only the policy but even the absurd title 'Shadow Minister for Net Zero', signalling an unwavering loyalty to unreliable windmills and solar factories.
"Family First has been clear: South Australia's obsession with renewables is the reason we have the highest prices in the nation," Ms Mathew said.
"Wind and solar are the most expensive and unreliable form of power once you include the towers, transmission lines, batteries and constant back-up generation required to stop the grid collapsing."
Ms Mathew said Premier Peter Malinauskas and Vincent Tarzia were now virtually indistinguishable on energy policy — both committed to renewables, both committed to net zero, and both refusing to restore the affordable, reliable baseload generation families desperately need.
"South Australians deserve a real alternative," she said.
"Family First is willing to say publicly what energy CEOs have been whispering for years — net zero cannot be achieved without punishing families. The transition is already pushing power bills through the roof. Families simply cannot afford it."
She said Tarzia's insistence that SA's high renewable penetration justified staying the course showed exactly why the Liberals can't be trusted.
"South Australia's 'unique situation' is precisely the problem. We blew up our coal stations, we bet the house on weather-dependent power, and now both major parties want families to carry the cost," Ms Mathew said.
"Burning more gas to prop up wind and solar is not a plan — it's an admission that renewables don't work."
Family First will campaign to take the pressure off families by restoring energy security, ending the reckless rush to unreliable renewables, and demanding affordable baseload power — including gas and future nuclear options — to bring bills down.
"Families have had enough of ideological energy experiments," Ms Mathew said.
"They want the lights on, they want bills they can actually pay, and they want a government with the courage to admit that net zero is failing. Family First will be that voice for families."
