Cheaper energy for Australia

Renewables backed with batteries are the cheapest energy source

We will speed up the replacement of the old failing coal plants with renewables and accelerate electrification of transport, households and business. Gas and Coal have been the big drivers of rising energy prices of late, although Australia still has above-average energy affordability compared to other OECD countries.

To get more cheap energy to the market faster we would acquire sites for renewable energy generation and new electricity transmission lines.*

We should also convert the existing diesel fuel subsidy into a farm & truck electrification subsidy.

Renewables boom, fossil declines while nuclear flatlines

(*Excluding Conservative Electorates – see One Country, Two Systems)

Farming the sun and wind

Solar panels have been shown to enhance productivity of farmland used for livestock (Image: ABC)

As the climate deteriorates traditional farming of crops and livestock will become increasingly marginal.

Mixing renewable energy with farming will be essential to keep farms viable, supply energy and produce food.*

(*Excluding Conservative Electorates – see One Country, Two Systems)

Land needed to replace coal-fired power with solar (Solar energy council)

Lower fuel prices

Electricity is the cheapest fuel.

We would strongly encourage the sale of new EV’s and recharging infrastructure.

Fast chargers should be available at all petrol stations and public car parks. This could be encouraged with tax incentives.

Australian electricity prices: About average

See more at Australian Energy Council.

Restricting Data Centres

AI Data Centres consume vast amounts of energy and water to produce fake videos and disinformation.

The amount of water required to cool Sydney’s datacentres is projected to be the same as needed for Canberra within a decade.

If companies want to build them they also need to build the renewable power to run them and use seawater to cool them down, not drinking water.

We would increase taxation of industrial-scale use of fresh water. See our tax reform page.

Nuclear power is too expensive for Australia

All credible studies show adding fission power stations to Australia’s grid would take decades and drive up energy prices.

Fusion power is making significant progress and may provide power to the grid in the future. We should not build fission in the meantime.