A Cheaper, Cleaner, and More Consistent Energy Plan for Australia

Australians face soaring energy costs, record levels of hardship, small business insolvencies, and growing uncertainty under Labor’s renewables-only energy plan.

The latest analysis from Frontier Economics reveals the Coalition’s balanced energy mix, including zero-emissions nuclear power, offers a cheaper, cleaner, and more consistent alternative, delivering massive savings for Australian families and businesses.

The Coalition’s energy plan will save Australians up to $263 billion compared to Labor’s renewables-only approach – a 44 per cent saving for taxpayers and businesses.

Cheaper Energy Costs

Labor’s energy plan comes at five times the cost Australians were initially promised. This excessive burden is already being felt by families and businesses, with energy bills rising by up to 52 per cent and more than 25,000 businesses forced to close their doors in part due to skyrocketing energy costs.

In contrast, the Coalition’s approach integrates zero-emissions nuclear energy alongside renewables and gas, delivering a total system cost significantly lower than Labor’s. This means reduced power bills for households, lower operating costs for small businesses, and a stronger, more resilient economy.

Anthony Albanese promised Australians a $275 cut to their power bills, but instead, families are paying up to $1,000 more under Labor’s costly and chaotic energy policies.

Labor’s ‘renewables-only’ experiment is costing Australians five times more than originally promised, driving energy prices higher and small businesses to the brink.

Over 25,000 small businesses have already closed, and families are entering hardship arrangements with their energy providers at the rate of 560 per week. Australians can’t afford Labor’s costly energy policies.

Cleaner Energy Mix

Nuclear energy is the key to achieving net-zero emissions sooner. Under the Coalition’s plan, Australia will meet net zero emissions by 2050 – one year earlier than Labor – while generating fewer emissions beyond 2050.

By avoiding Labor’s unnecessary overdevelopment on pristine landscapes and farmland, the Coalition ensures a more sustainable and responsible shift from coal to zero emissions nuclear.

Under Anthony Albanese, emissions are higher now than when the Coalition left office, proving that Labor’s chaotic renewables-only agenda isn’t just expensive, it’s ineffective.

Our plan responsibly integrates renewables, increasing large-scale solar and wind capacity while protecting regional communities from overdevelopment. At the same time, zero-emissions nuclear energy and gas provide the reliability that Labor’s plan fails to deliver.

Consistent Power Supply

Labor’s plan will see 90 per cent of Australia’s 24/7 baseload power forced out of the system by 2034, leaving the grid vulnerable to blackouts and instability.

In contrast, the Coalition’s approach ensures retiring coal plants are replaced with reliable, zero-emissions nuclear energy, supported by renewables, gas, and storage. By 2050, our plan will deliver up to 14 GW of nuclear energy, guaranteeing consistent and stable electricity for all Australians.

A Better Path for Australia

Frontier Economics’ analysis leaves no doubt: Australians will be better off under our plan. We will avoid hidden costs, reduce unnecessary infrastructure expenses, and lead to lower energy prices.

Labor’s chaotic plan burdens Australians with a system that costs five times more than they were promised. The Coalition’s plan ensures Australians are not overburdened by unnecessary expenses or reckless policies.

Nuclear energy is at the heart of our plan, providing the “always-on” power needed to back up renewables, stabilise the grid, and keep energy affordable. Advanced economies worldwide are expanding nuclear programs to meet their energy and emissions goals, and Australia must not be left behind.

Only the Coalition’s energy plan delivers a cheaper, cleaner, and consistent future for Australian households and businesses while protecting our environment and securing the energy Australians rely on.

Deepening Australia-Papua New Guinea ties through rugby league

The Australian and Papua New Guinea (PNG) Governments are partnering with the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) to deepen our connections through rugby league.

Australia will support a PNG team to enter the National Rugby League (NRL) competition no later than 2028.

As PNG prepares to mark its 50th anniversary of independence in 2025, this partnership celebrates our countries’ shared history and future, reflects our strategic trust and opens new people-to-people and economic opportunities.

The establishment of a PNG team in the NRL is an important symbol of our contemporary partnership.

It will deliver significant economic benefits to both countries through investment in new infrastructure and by boosting PNG and Australia’s sports and tourism sectors.

The Australian Government will also partner with the ARLC on a Pacific Rugby League Partnership for girls and boys, and women and men to play rugby league from the grassroots to the elite level across PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

This Partnership will use rugby league to help increase school retention, promote positive health and nutrition, build gender equality and foster youth leadership.

It will invest in girls’ and women’s rugby league across the region, cultivating pathways and new opportunities, and work toward including a PNG Women’s team in one of Australia’s premier state competitions.

This will build on Australia’s existing investments in sports development across the Pacific – which include programs for netball, rugby union, Aussie rules and cricket – and complement Australia’s broader development partnerships in the region.

Australia and PNG are vital to each other’s future. Australia is proud to be PNG’s primary security and development partner.

This new partnership will be underpinned by shared strategic trust and strong people-to-people links and reflects our commitment to delivering peace, prosperity and opportunity for our people and our region.

Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese:

“A Papua New Guinea NRL team is a game-changer for Australia’s relationship with PNG and a unifying force – no two countries have a greater passion for rugby league.

“Australia’s relationship with the Pacific is profoundly important and our sporting ties are unique.

“Partnering on rugby league is a genuine and powerful way of building lasting ties between our peoples, and ensuring long-term development, social and economic outcomes for PNG and the Pacific.

“Our partnership will create new opportunities for girls’ and women’s rugby league across PNG and the Pacific, recognising the power of sports programs in championing inclusion and improving gender equality.”

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape:

“This one team will be for one people, one country, one nation, a national unifier.

“We deeply appreciate our relationship with Australia. While government-to-government ties are important, at the heart and soul of this relationship must be people-to-people connections. Sport has the unique power to unite our two peoples, who share an ancient history and even the same DNA, as seen in the bond between Papua New Guineans and Torres Strait Islanders.

“An NRL team for PNG is more than just sports – it is a national unification strategy. With our diverse cultures and people, rugby league can bring us together as one nation. At the same time, it strengthens the shared history and people-to-people links between PNG and Australia. 

“For us, this partnership is not only about rugby league but also about anchoring the deep connection between our two countries. Sport is a powerful tool to solidify and celebrate this relationship, creating a bridge that connects our communities on a personal and cultural level.

“As we look to our 50th anniversary of independence, we envision a future where a PNG NRL team represents not just sporting excellence but the enduring partnership and shared destiny between PNG and Australia. This is more than a game – it is a symbol of unity and mutual respect.” 

Parents left disappointed by Labor’s childcare half-measures: Greens

The Greens say Labor’s announcement on early childhood education and care falls short of providing genuine reform required to fix the childcare system in Australia.

Early Childhood Education and Care spokesperson Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May:

“Parents woke up today hoping that they could send their kids to childcare without breaking the bank. Instead, they have been left disappointed. 

“Labor’s announcement will do very little for families. Three days of subsided childcare is still only three days – parents will still be stuck with high fees and long childcare waiting lists and kids will continue to miss out on an education, particularly those most disadvantaged. 

“We know that the activity test unfairly locks families out of getting an early education, and if Labor wanted to they could fully abolish the activity test today.”

“Our childcare system is in crisis and the sector is crying out for transformative change. We were hoping for genuine reform, but instead, Labor continues to tinker around the edges and kick the can of universal early childhood education and care to the next election cycle.

“If we want a universal system, where every kid gets the best start at life – we need to make childcare free and genuinely accessible. Every day that Labor delays action, is a day that our children are denied access to early education and parents are kept out of paid work. 

“While parents continue to struggle in a cost of living crisis, Labor and the Coalition simply don’t have the courage to take real action. With the Greens in the balance of power, we’ll fight to keep Dutton out of government and push Labor to make childcare universal and free.”

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:

“Many parents will be disappointed by these half-measures, which won’t make any difference for full-time working families. 

“This won’t make childcare more affordable for parents working part-time and won’t address the cost issues for women wanting to return to work full-time. 

“It’s clear the major parties won’t do what’s needed to fix early childhood education, and we can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. With a minority parliament looming, the Greens in Parliament will keep Peter Dutton out and push Labor to make childcare universal and free.”

Greens launch legislation to enshrine housing as a human right

Today the ACT Greens have launched draft legislation to enshrine housing as a human right, alongside a discussion paper seeking community feedback.

“Like education or healthcare, affordable housing is an essential service and key to living a life with dignity. From childhood through to adulthood, housing provides the basis for stability in all aspects of our lives,” said Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury. 

“For too long, politicians across the nation have treated the government’s role in the housing market as providing for private profit, rather than safeguarding our community from the skyrocketing cost of finding and keeping a home. 

“Now more than ever, in the middle of the most urgent housing crisis in living memory, we need to think about housing differently.  

“We need to set the groundwork for a complete rethink of the government’s role in the housing market, providing a starting point for deeper, more ambitious discussions about how the government can provide truly affordable homes.

“This legislation put forward by the Greens’ reflects a practical way we can focus the priorities of the government, ensuring that the government properly considers housing affordability in decision making. 

“This means that when legislation is introduced in the Assembly, the government will need to consider the human right to housing, which includes the impact on security of tenure for Canberrans, affordability, services like water and electricity, accessibility, location and cultural adequacy

“It is my hope this legislation will start a conversation both within and outside the government about the level of change that is needed to prioritise building homes for people over the private profit of property investors and companies.

“This could include greater focus on market interventions or broader provision of publicly owned housing to boost the rental market with affordable places to live, we’re open to all sorts of ideas from the community.

“That’s why we’ve launched a discussion paper alongside this new legislation to ensure there is a real grassroots movement behind this call for change.

“Canberrans who want to have their say can submit their feedback by getting in touch with my office. These submissions will inform the future of Greens action on enshrining housing a human right.”

For more information about the draft legislation and discussion paper, visit the ACT Greens website. Consultation for the draft legislation will close on Friday the 28th of February 2025 and is welcome from everyone in the community.

Greens launch legislation to enshrine housing as a human right

Today the ACT Greens have launched draft legislation to enshrine housing as a human right, alongside a discussion paper seeking community feedback.

“Like education or healthcare, affordable housing is an essential service and key to living a life with dignity. From childhood through to adulthood, housing provides the basis for stability in all aspects of our lives,” said Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury. 

“For too long, politicians across the nation have treated the government’s role in the housing market as providing for private profit, rather than safeguarding our community from the skyrocketing cost of finding and keeping a home. 

“Now more than ever, in the middle of the most urgent housing crisis in living memory, we need to think about housing differently.  

“We need to set the groundwork for a complete rethink of the government’s role in the housing market, providing a starting point for deeper, more ambitious discussions about how the government can provide truly affordable homes.

“This legislation put forward by the Greens’ reflects a practical way we can focus the priorities of the government, ensuring that the government properly considers housing affordability in decision making. 

“This means that when legislation is introduced in the Assembly, the government will need to consider the human right to housing, which includes the impact on security of tenure for Canberrans, affordability, services like water and electricity, accessibility, location and cultural adequacy

“It is my hope this legislation will start a conversation both within and outside the government about the level of change that is needed to prioritise building homes for people over the private profit of property investors and companies.

“This could include greater focus on market interventions or broader provision of publicly owned housing to boost the rental market with affordable places to live, we’re open to all sorts of ideas from the community.

“That’s why we’ve launched a discussion paper alongside this new legislation to ensure there is a real grassroots movement behind this call for change.

“Canberrans who want to have their say can submit their feedback by getting in touch with my office. These submissions will inform the future of Greens action on enshrining housing a human right.”

For more information about the draft legislation and discussion paper, visit the ACT Greens website. Consultation for the draft legislation will close on Friday the 28th of February 2025 and is welcome from everyone in the community.

Labor finally shifts towards Greens position after tens of thousands killed in Gaza

The Greens have said Labor’s move towards the Greens’ consistently advocated position for an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire proved the minor party right from the beginning, but have criticised Labor for allowing tens of thousands of people to be killed in Gaza before starting to recognise the reality of the unfolding genocide. 

The Greens say Labor must now start to implement the Greens’ calls for sanctions on the extremist Netanyahu government, and commit to actioning arrest warrants issued by the ICC. 

Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens:

“Labor is recognising the Greens were right all along to call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, but tragically tens of thousands of people have been killed in Gaza in the meantime.

“The Greens opposed the invasion of Gaza from the beginning, and consistently called for an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire. Labor attacked us, backed the invasion and refused to call for Benjamin Netanyahu to simply stop, but today Labor’s position has been exposed for the mistake it always was.

“Since the Greens first called for a ceasefire, Gaza has been levelled, its health system has totally collapsed and a genocide is unfolding, while international courts have issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu and found apartheid is being committed.

“Now Labor must do what the Greens have been calling for and put real pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the invasion, starting with sanctions on his extremist government and ending the two-way arms trade.”

Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Senator Jordon Steele-John:

“This is a move in the right direction but it must now be backed with action to pressure The State of Israel into complying with international law. 

“Labor has resisted supporting an unconditional ceasefire for too long while tens of thousands have been killed and the extremist Netanyahu government has crossed every red line set out by the International Community.

“This government must end its opposition to applying sanctions to members of the State of Israel’s government including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

“Australia must now show leadership by joining South Africa’s case at the international Court of Justice and by stopping the two-way arms trade with Israel.

“There is a genocide occurring in Gaza right now and we cannot afford not to act.”

Justice for Buddy Kelly, Community rallies at Coroner’s Court

Dozens of community members have rallied at the NSW Coroner’s Court in Lidcombe today calling for the reopening of the coronial investigation into the death of Lewis “Buddy” Kelly in 1983. Buddy Kelly was just 16-years-old when he was found dead on railway tracks outside of Kempsey and the initial investigation into the circumstances of Buddy’s death was completely inadequate with no autopsy, no blood alcohol readings and with the police failing to take individual statements from key witnesses.  

In 2020, Buddy’s body was exhumed with the permission of his family by the NSW Coroner to be forensically examined. Four years later, Buddy’s family are calling for answers and for an investigation into new evidence that has been reported to the NSW Police and Coroner.   

Buddy’s sister Monica Kelly spoke in front of the Coroner’s Court today, “It’s been four years since our family made the impossible decision to have our Buddy exhumed, and more than 41 years since he was taken from us and denied his life. We need answers and we need them urgently,”  

“What our family has gone through has been four decades and four generations of trauma. We have not received updates from the Coroner about the investigation, and for four years we have had to live with the freshly opened wound of Buddy’s death. If there is any information that can be provided to us, then it should be. Our lives are passing by while waiting for the results of this investigation that started more than four years ago,”  

“We will keep going down this path for as long as it takes, no family could rest if they had gone through the same trauma as us. It is impossible to see why there has not been more progress on finding the truth behind Buddy’s death even though we are now years down the track from the Coroner exhuming him,”  

“We also know that there has been fresh evidence given to the NSW Police and the Coroner that should have been the trigger for a fresh investigation to start. Everyday that there is no progress, and that we aren’t told what is going on, is another day of injustice for Buddy and for us,”  

“This journey we are on trying to access justice for Buddy and our families should not be this long and hard. It has been 4 years since we saw the exhuming of the body. Things are not moving fast enough and we have been left out. There should be better processes and support in place for our family. We are doing this because we want the system to change so that we can access justice and so that other families that may follow ours don’t have to do it so hard. We just want a fair and proper process while we find the truth about our Buddy. It’s what everyone deserves.”  

“The Coroner has a responsibility to see justice served, and in our case the injustice is extensive, painful and ongoing. We are here today to show the world that we are not going away, and that we will not give up on justice for Buddy,” Ms Kelly said.  

Deepening Australia-Papua New Guinea ties through rugby league

The Australian and Papua New Guinea (PNG) Governments are partnering with the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) to deepen our connections through rugby league.

Australia will support a PNG team to enter the National Rugby League (NRL) competition no later than 2028.

As PNG prepares to mark its 50th anniversary of independence in 2025, this partnership celebrates our countries’ shared history and future, reflects our strategic trust and opens new people-to-people and economic opportunities.

The establishment of a PNG team in the NRL is an important symbol of our contemporary partnership.

It will deliver significant economic benefits to both countries through investment in new infrastructure and by boosting PNG and Australia’s sports and tourism sectors.

The Australian Government will also partner with the ARLC on a Pacific Rugby League Partnership for girls and boys, and women and men to play rugby league from the grassroots to the elite level across PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

This Partnership will use rugby league to help increase school retention, promote positive health and nutrition, build gender equality and foster youth leadership.

It will invest in girls’ and women’s rugby league across the region, cultivating pathways and new opportunities, and work toward including a PNG Women’s team in one of Australia’s premier state competitions.

This will build on Australia’s existing investments in sports development across the Pacific – which include programs for netball, rugby union, Aussie rules and cricket – and complement Australia’s broader development partnerships in the region.

Australia and PNG are vital to each other’s future. Australia is proud to be PNG’s primary security and development partner.

This new partnership will be underpinned by shared strategic trust and strong people-to-people links and reflects our commitment to delivering peace, prosperity and opportunity for our people and our region.

Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese:

“A Papua New Guinea NRL team is a game-changer for Australia’s relationship with PNG and a unifying force – no two countries have a greater passion for rugby league.

“Australia’s relationship with the Pacific is profoundly important and our sporting ties are unique.

“Partnering on rugby league is a genuine and powerful way of building lasting ties between our peoples, and ensuring long-term development, social and economic outcomes for PNG and the Pacific.

“Our partnership will create new opportunities for girls’ and women’s rugby league across PNG and the Pacific, recognising the power of sports programs in championing inclusion and improving gender equality.”

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape:

“This one team will be for one people, one country, one nation, a national unifier.

“We deeply appreciate our relationship with Australia. While government-to-government ties are important, at the heart and soul of this relationship must be people-to-people connections. Sport has the unique power to unite our two peoples, who share an ancient history and even the same DNA, as seen in the bond between Papua New Guineans and Torres Strait Islanders.

“An NRL team for PNG is more than just sports – it is a national unification strategy. With our diverse cultures and people, rugby league can bring us together as one nation. At the same time, it strengthens the shared history and people-to-people links between PNG and Australia. 

“For us, this partnership is not only about rugby league but also about anchoring the deep connection between our two countries. Sport is a powerful tool to solidify and celebrate this relationship, creating a bridge that connects our communities on a personal and cultural level.

“As we look to our 50th anniversary of independence, we envision a future where a PNG NRL team represents not just sporting excellence but the enduring partnership and shared destiny between PNG and Australia. This is more than a game – it is a symbol of unity and mutual respect.” 

New Report: Connectivity of habitat critical for Koalas

A new report from Canines for Wildlife has revealed the critical importance of maintaining habitat connectivity for Koala populations. The report, provided to Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance, examined the Koala population in the Bellingen-Coffs Harbour area and demonstrated the genetic health of the Koalas was reliant on a wide geographic range with healthy habitat connections through public and private land, and across barriers created by human infrastructure.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said “Koalas need a landscape approach to habitat protection that provides healthy pathways between population hubs. This means that a piecemeal approach to protecting forests cannot protect healthy Koala populations from threats like logging and infrastructure,”

“Acoustic monitoring research relied on by the Forestry Corporation and the logging industry to guess Koala numbers has been debunked. This new report goes further and shows just how important it is for the Government to protect habitat across land tenures, and in a way that connects forests across the landscape,”

“The community have been waiting for 18 months for the Minns Labor Government to act on their promise to create a Great Koala National Park in the Bellingen-Coffs Harbour area, while seeing an increase in industrial logging across critical areas of Koala habitat. This new report shows just how dangerous this approach is to the Koala population in the area,”

“The logging lobbyists are working overtime to push the Government to create a Koala Park that is a fraction of what was promised, and want logging to continue in areas within the park. If the Minns Labor Government caves to the logging industry, so much more habitat connectivity will be destroyed, putting this significant Koala population at greater risk of extinction,”

“Rather than walking backwards on their promise to protect Koalas, NSW Labor should be heeding the calls from experts and communities to go further and faster in protecting more habitat at a landscape level. Without a scientific approach to conservation, Koalas will remain as political footballs that will be driven to extinction by compromise and political failure,” Ms Higginson said.

Greens preselect award-winning poet Omar Sakr in Blaxland

Dr Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Greens Leader and Senator for New South Wales, is excited to announce the preselection of Omar Sakr as the Greens candidate for the federal seat of Blaxland currently held by Labor Education Minister Jason Clare.

An award-winning Arab Australian poet who was born and raised in western Sydney to Arab and Turkish Muslim migrants, Sakr will bring a desperately-needed, authentic community voice in parliament.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi:

“I’m so proud and excited to see Omar running for the Greens in Blaxland. Omar will bring the authenticity of western Sydney and its rich multicultural community into the halls of parliament. And that’s exactly what we need.

“It’s never been clearer that the two major parties have lost touch with the community as they prioritise corporate interests while millions struggle to make ends meet in this cost of living crisis. That’s why it’s so important that voices like Omar are in parliament – voices from the community that fight for the community.

“Western Sydney has been taken for granted for far too long. Mortgage and rental stress is high, it’s getting harder to see a GP for free, and public schools are underfunded. 

“The Greens have a plan to make corporations pay their fair share of tax to fund things we all need like affordable homes, fully funded public schools and making sure people can see their GP for free.

“Labor does not care about western Sydney. Labor’s inaction on Israel’s genocide in Gaza has traumatised Arab and Muslim communities in western Sydney, and they teamed up with the Liberals to pass horrific anti-migrant laws. 

“With people like Omar alongside me, we can keep fighting even more strongly for marginalised communities who have been left behind.

“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expect different results. There is a better way. If you want change, vote Greens.”

Omar Sakr:

“I’m running for election as a Greens candidate in the seat of Blaxland, where I live with my family, because I’m disgusted and horrified by the Labor government’s refusal to sanction Israel in accordance with international law, as it carries out a genocide in Palestine. This “friend” of the government has killed and maimed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, to say nothing of the indiscriminate bombing that killed 4,000 in Lebanon, where my mother was born and where some of our relatives still remain.

“Labor and the Liberals are united in their disregard for the rights and lives of Arab and Muslim people, they are united in attaching Australia to the US’s doomed and ruinous forever wars in the Middle East, which we don’t need to have any part in, nor should we. 

“It’s harder and harder to distinguish between Labor and the Liberals these days, but there is a clear difference in the Greens, who have stood on their principles, and who continually champion justice, which is why I’m honoured to have been preselected by my local Greens group and to represent this party. 

“I want a better, fairer society for my children to grow up in, one with a sustainable future, quality education, accessible housing and healthcare that encompasses all of the mind and body, not just the parts deemed cheapest to cover.

“Blaxland has the highest mortgage stress rate in the country and I’m one of the people experiencing that. Most of my family are struggling under extreme rental stress as well. And this is why I’m getting involved, we need serious change and we need it now. 

“Blaxland deserves a federal MP who actually represents them. They won’t get that in a Labor or Liberal MP, but they will get that in me.”