MEDIA RELEASE
Family First has slammed both Labor and Liberal for committing to close the Eraring coal-fired power station before cheaper and more reliable alternatives are in place.
“Energy policy must put struggling families first,” said Lyle Shelton, Family First’s NSW Lead Upper House candidate.
“Price and reliability should be the priority, not risky experiments that threaten blackouts and drive up power bills.”
The Eraring plant provides around 20 per cent of NSW’s electricity. Labor is pushing ahead with its closure in August 2027, despite warnings from the Australian Energy Market Operator and Transgrid that the state’s so-called green energy rollout is far behind schedule, and that the grid faces a “risk of gaps” for years.
“It is reckless for Labor to pull the plug on reliable baseload power when there’s no proven, affordable replacement,” Mr Shelton said.
“The Coalition is sadly no better — they signed us up to this dangerous net zero experiment and still support closing coal stations prematurely.”
Family First argues that the major parties’ bipartisan embrace of net zero has led to spiralling costs, taxpayer subsidies for intermittent wind and solar projects, and a scramble for expensive stopgap measures such as synchronous condensers to keep the lights on.
“Both sides have locked us into an energy transition that is expensive, behind schedule, and risking the stability of the grid,” Mr Shelton said.
“Families are already struggling with cost-of-living pressures. The last thing they need is higher power prices and rolling blackouts.”
Family First is calling for a moratorium on coal closures until alternative generation can deliver the same reliability at the same or lower cost.
“Closing Eraring without a realistic, affordable plan is economic vandalism,” Mr Shelton said.
“It’s time to stop the ideological madness and put NSW families first.”