Latest news with #Tehan
Sky News AU
16-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘Where are they going to live?': Labor's immigration and housing targets questioned
Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan discusses the skyrocketing immigration rates under the Albanese government and their inability to house the influx of newcomers. 'Once again talk a huge game and then cannot deliver a single thing, it's quite extraordinary,' Mr Tehan told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'The question still remains, where are all these people going to live? As you know, we've seen recently treasurer documents that have been leaked show Labor are not going to meet their housing targets and yet their immigration targets, rather than going down as Anthony Albanese promised they would, continue to grow at extraordinary rates.'
Sky News AU
11-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Victoria blasted for ‘demonising' gas in their renewables-only crusade
Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan says the Victorian government has 'demonised' gas in their renewables-only approach. This comes as Red Energy, the country's fourth largest energy retailer, will slap its customers with fresh electricity price hikes in a major blow to thousands of Victorian families. 'Now in Victoria, what we are seeing to try and overcome these delays, is they are taking property rights away from farmers,' Mr Tehan told Sky News Australia. 'It's because they haven't got the plan right, and in particularly, because they have focused on renewables only.'
Sky News AU
11-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Dan Tehan slams the government's energy transition as solar farms face forced shutdowns amid grid bottleneck crisis
Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan has accused the Albanese government of mismanaging Australia's energy transition, warning delays to critical infrastructure are forcing solar farms to switch off and drive power prices through the roof. His comments come in the wake of alarming new forecasts from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), which reveal that nearly every major solar farm in Victoria and South Australia will be required to curtail at least one third of their output by 2027 due to grid congestion. Some projects are expected to lose more than 65 per cent of their generation capacity. In an interview with Sky News, Mr Tehan laid blame squarely on Energy Minister Chris Bowen, accusing him of ignoring the real-world cost of the transition and failing to deliver the infrastructure needed to support it. "Well, the problem is that Chris Bowen's made a complete mess of our electricity transition,' he said. "Everywhere you look, it's a mess. And the one thing that he doesn't want to answer is, what is the cost of this mess? "We know that his plans don't take into consideration the cost of this rollout of new poles and wires. He won't put a figure on it. We now know that that's delayed. "So, what does that mean when it comes to the grid's reliability going forward, and also what does it mean for consumers?" With key projects like the $3.3 billion VNI West interconnector now facing multi-year delays, the energy grid is struggling to accommodate the surge in renewables production, leaving solar farms with no choice but to shut down during periods of peak generation. Mr Tehan also took aim at the broader approach to renewables in Victoria, where much of the grid congestion is concentrated. "It's because they've focused on this renewables only approach and they've completely demonised gas - they've completely demonised the idea that we should have gas peaking plants and now in Victoria, to try and overcome these delays, they're taking property rights away from farmers," he said. AEMO has warned that unless key transmission lines are fast-tracked, large-scale solar farms will increasingly be forced offline, even as coal plants close and the grid becomes more dependent on renewable sources. For Mr Tehan, the solution lies in abandoning the narrow focus on renewables and adopting a more balanced, technology-neutral strategy. "If they had a technology-neutral approach we wouldn't be in the mess that we are in at the moment," the shadow energy minister said. "Everyone says we need more gas into the systems and rather than running roughshod over communities when it comes to putting increased grid costs on everyone, look at simple things you can do right here and how to alleviate costs on power bills, but also making sure that you're going to have a much more stable system going forward." The Coalition has long criticised Labor's handling of the energy transition, arguing that excluding technologies like gas from the long-term plan would put Australia's energy security at risk. With energy prices continuing to rise and reliability coming under threat, Mr Tehan said Australians are being left to pick up the tab for policy failure. "The message from these customers to Chris Bowen, who is sunning himself in the Pacific Island at the moment, is they want an apology because Chris Bowen promised these customers a $275 reduction in their power bills, and yet here he is when they get another increase saying, 'oh, we've got this under review'. 'Everywhere you look, it's just a mess."
Sky News AU
08-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Thousands already in energy debt face further hardship as electricity bills surge across Australia
Australians are attempting to adapt to a fresh financial blow following electricity price hikes which officially kicked in on July 1, affecting millions of households nationwide. The increases announced by the country's largest electricity providers - AGL, Origin, and EnergyAustralia - are already being felt across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and the ACT, with average bills rising between $110 and $300 per year depending on the provider and state. According to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), the cost increases follow updated default market offers and reflect higher wholesale energy prices, increased network charges, and customer service costs. With these rising prices, the AER's latest quarterly data revealed that more than 215,000 Australians are currently in energy debt - a number that rose by 7 per cent from the previous quarter, while Canstar Blue data insights director Sally Tindall said more than four million households will see their electricity prices rise. The average household energy debt now sits at $1,415, up $309 year-on-year. Shadow energy and emissions reduction minister Dan Tehan slammed the Albanese government for breaking its promise regarding rising energy bills, with the Liberal MP demanding an apology to the Australian people. 'Labor's promise that electricity prices would be $275 cheaper this year was a lie and Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen should apologise,' Mr Tehan told 'Instead, since Labor was elected, electricity prices across the National Energy Market increased by up to $1,058 in New South Wales, $684 in Queensland and $747 in South Australia. Prices are up to $1,300 more than what Labor promised they would be." Mr Tehan criticised the Energy Minister Mr Bowen stating that his only approach was disrupting the energy system and leading to higher electricity prices for Australian families. 'There is no transparency about the true costs to consumers of Labor's renewables only approach and underwriting renewable energy projects using taxpayer money,' he said. Alongside this financial increases, Anglicare Australia's 2025 Cost of Living Index paints another bleak picture for low-income earners, stating that a full-time worker on the minimum wage has just $33 left each week after rent, food, and transport. For a single parent, that number drops to just $1, even with government support. 'After paying the basics, minimum wage, workers are left with almost nothing. In many cases, there's no money left for energy bills at all,' Anglicare executive director Kasy Chambers said. 'We're seeing more people trapped in energy debt. They are skipping meals, going without heating, and falling behind on bills they'll never be able to repay.' Chambers also revealed that more than 330,000 customers collectively owe $300 million to energy retailers, with debts over $3,000 rising sharply. To address rising hardship, new regulations by the Australian Energy Market Commission will limit retailers to one price increase per year, ban most late-payment penalties, and compel companies to move vulnerable customers to their best available plans. Speaking to ABC News Radio on June 26, Australian Melissa Fisher revealed the tough choices she already has to make everyday due to the mounting pressure of her energy bill. 'If an emergency happens and I miss one payment, they can now cut me off, so that has to come before anything else. I've had to sell some stuff and not eat properly. The first thing we had to cut back on was groceries and medication,' she said. AGL customers in New South Wales are facing the steepest increases, with prices up by 13.5 per cent, adding around $267 annually for average usage. For high-use customers, the figure could climb to $300. In South Australia, bills are rising by 7.8 per cent, or $200 annually, while Queensland households will see a 7.5 per cent increase, amounting to an additional $155 per year. 'AGL is committed to supporting customers experiencing cost-of-living pressures with $85m of the $90m FY24 and FY25 Customer Support Package delivered to date, and we will continue to deliver programs to support our customers over the next 12 months,' the company said in a statement last June. Origin Energy, the country's largest retailer, is increasing market plan prices by 9.1 per cent in NSW ($216 more annually), 5.5 per cent in South Australia ($122), and 3.1 per cent in southeast Queensland ($72). Victorians will see the same increase from August 1, while gas prices in the state are already set to rise by $85 per year. EnergyAustralia customers are also facing steep rises. NSW households will be hit with an 8.7 per cent increase ($215), ACT customers face a 11.6 per cent hike ($231), Victorians will see 2.3 per cent ($47), and Queensland and South Australia will follow with increases of $53 and $73, respectively, from September 1. The average household on a default plan in NSW, southeast Queensland, and South Australia will pay up to $228 more per year as a result of the AER's revised default market offer. While the federal government has extended its $75-a-quarter energy bill relief until the end of the year, many argue that the assistance won't be enough to cushion the full impact of these hikes.
The Age
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The Age
LNP's ‘wait and see' policy black holes count for zero
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@ Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. OPPOSITION ENERGY POLICY Dan Tehan's latest commentary (' Tehan maintains rage over Labor's green agenda that is 'trashing our economy' ', 28/6 ) is a masterclass in political hedging. He attacks Labor's clean energy plan as too costly without offering any serious alternative – and without saying what he would spend, or do instead. Apparently, it's too soon to say what the Coalition's policy will be. But it's not too soon to throw stones. Tehan is trying to have it both ways: Acknowledging climate change is real, and we must act, but also undermining Australia's existing pathway to net zero – one endorsed by 195 countries and backed by growing investment, jobs and global momentum. Instead of proposing a credible, costed alternative, Tehan points to nuclear power – a decades-away, taxpayer-funded gamble that voters in proposed host communities clearly rejected. Meanwhile, his own Coalition partners, the Nationals, are openly discussing ditching net zero altogether. If the Coalition really believes in climate action and affordable energy, it needs to stop hiding behind scare campaigns and internal reviews. Tehan's 'wait and see' approach isn't leadership– it's delay dressed up as strategy. The public deserves more than recycled talking points and policy black holes. Alan Richardson, Warrnambool Pace for renewables after Coalition inaction Has it ever occurred to Dan Tehan (29/6) why the federal government has to move so quickly on rolling out renewable energy? May it have something to do with 20 years of Coalition governments' climate change denial and inaction? Geoff Wescott, Northcote Time for action is now I am surprised that Dan Tehan expects voters to be turned on by his plan to let Labor make all the running on climate for '18 months and two years and then work out what we can do'. There are indications enough that the Australian public knows that real emissions have to come down. We know that more severe climate deterioration can be expected as world average surface temperatures approach and exceed 1.5oC above their values in pre-industrial times. We are already effectively at this threshold – and emissions, instead of coming down, continue to rise. Human-induced climate change will only ease if, and when, global action is effective in bringing the concentration of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere back down towards levels prevalent in pre-industrial times. The concentration of carbon dioxide in pre-industrial times was 280 parts per million. It is now 420 ppm and rising. The responsible thing for the Coalition to do would be to work with the government in implementing the most cost-effective ways of reducing emissions, not in 18 months' or two years' time, but now. John Gare, Kew East More from the LNP policy wasteland Angus Taylor believes quotas for women in his party would 'subvert democracy' (27/6). This is what subverts democracy, Angus: Imposing false debts on half a million social security recipients, causing horrific stress and hardship (Robodebt); providing tax breaks and other benefits to wealthy individuals and companies in the hope some crumbs will eventually trickle down to everyone else (supply side economics – a bedrock LNP principle); ignoring the science of climate change for decades resulting in untold personal, financial and environmental damage (climate denialism). From the same policy wasteland, Dan Tehan, in an accompanying article, suggests the opposition might have some ideas for a climate policy in a few years' time, while railing against the Labor government's commitment to renewables. Meanwhile, the gap between the 'haves' and 'have-nots' is at a 20-year high. Democracy has already been subverted under your watch Angus. Please make way for someone – preferably a woman – with some caring, careful and better crafted policies. Peter Thomson, Brunswick THE FORUM Who is really responsible? Oh dear, Angus. No quotas for women have worked so well for the Liberals. So who was responsible for failing so spectacularly? The 'men' can't blame quotas (there were none). Nor can they blame the women (as there were too few). Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills Merit in quotas It's worrying that quotas in politics is somehow an undemocratic idea (28/6). The insistence on 'merit' seems like a way of effectively shutting women out of politics. It means that a male-dominated party will be the on-going pattern, to the exclusion of female voices and sensibilities. Quotas lift opportunity for a fair representation in politics and isn't this the soul of democracy? The trouble with the 'merit' ideology is that women have to compete with men on men's terms, disadvantaging many women from the outset. Would that we could see the merit in quotas. Ian Hill, Blackburn South
