Community & Business
4 November, 2025
The National's plan for cheaper electricity, secure jobs, and lower emissions
Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey said in a win for common sense, The Nationals are announcing an all-energy approach, to deliver the lowest possible electricity prices for Australian households and businesses, while maintaining reliability and lowering emissions.
“Labor’s Net Zero plan is an impossible task that puts the burden on regional Australians,” Mr Chaffey said.
“While multiple polls over the past six months show Australians are of course concerned about climate change, they are facing the immediate challenges of steep cost of living increases in all areas of their lives.
“Nearly 65% of people said reducing their household costs was more important than reducing emissions.
“Other polling results showed more than 62% of people said no group should bear an unfair share of climate costs. 48% said they felt the transition was actually harming local environments.
“Regional Australians, including many across the electorate of Parkes, including the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, are already facing land use conflicts and other fallouts of rapid escalation of wind, solar and battery projects.
“We should also be concerned about the candidate Renewable Energy Zones included in an Australian Energy Market Operator report released in June 2024 [link at end or release] that shows plans to expand New South Wales’ five Renewable Energy Zones to 12. This includes one in North West NSW covering Moree, Narrabri and potentially Gunnedah – some of the best agricultural land the country has to offer – and Broken Hill. People need to be aware of this.
“It’s time to use some common sense in tackling this issue together, to find a way to move forward that does not put the burden on regional people – that is cheaper, better and fairer for all Australians.”
Under Labor’s net zero, electricity prices are up by 39 per cent. Gas prices are up by 42 per cent. In the meantime, real wages have dropped back to 2011 levels and 8500 manufacturing jobs have been lost.
Mr Chaffey said The Nationals will abandon Labor’s Net Zero plan.
“We will do our fair share to reduce global emissions, but not more than the rest of the world,” he said.
“If we continue down Labor’s reckless plan, Australians will only feel more pain, with the estimated cost of net zero at $7 to $9 trillion, or $250,000 per Australian.”
Six principles underpin The Nationals new pathway:
Lower energy prices first - we should lower energy prices first and abandon Labor’s net zero plan.
Doing our fair share - we should reduce emissions in line with comparable nations, not ahead of them.
A fair go for all - costs should be distributed evenly, not concentrated on regions. All carbon taxes and restrictions should be removed.
Empowering local action - let local communities lead initiatives such as waterway protection, land restoration and soil carbon.
Supporting all technologies - a commonsense approach to renewables, embrace new technologies, including nuclear and advanced coal and gas.
Protecting our security and prosperity - we should not compromise our quality of living, regional jobs and industries and national defence.
Australia has cut more emissions than other countries. On average, ‘rich’ countries have cut their emissions by 14 per cent. OECD countries have been cutting their emissions by 1 per cent per year. Australia has been cutting its emissions by about 2 per cent per year - double the OECD rate.
Our emissions cuts will be capped, calibrated and common sense.
The responsibility will be shared and transparent. There is a proven model, the Emissions Reduction Fund, that between 2014-23 facilitated real emission reductions that didn't ruin the economy.
We will incentivise lower emissions through a renewed Emissions Reduction Fund to deliver between 2 and 9 million tonnes of annual abatement, at an estimated cost between $200 to $500 million per year, which includes assumptions of higher carbon prices.
This is a small fraction of the $9 billion now spent on net-zero subsidies, regulations, and administrative costs.
Our approach will increase investment in cheaper electricity by broadening the Capacity Investment Scheme to include all energy technologies and remove the moratorium on nuclear energy.
