OUR PLAN FOR CHEAPER POWER AND SCRAPPING THE GEORGRAPHE BAY 
OFFSHORE WIND ZONE  
 

24/09/26 
 
Yesterday’s announcement by the Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan MP outlines the Liberal plan to put families and businesses in Forrest first by scrapping Net Zero and prioritising cheaper, reliable power. 
 
Member for Forrest Ben Small said rising power bills are putting pressure on households and businesses and people are sick of it. 
 
“Every extra dollar spent on your power bill is a dollar less for the family budget. Australians feel poorer today than the day Mr Albanese won power – and that’s because they are. The data doesn’t lie – only the Prime Minister does.” Mr Small said. 
 
“Australia has abundant energy resources. So why have our power prices risen almost 40% under this Labor Government?” 
 
“In fact, just last year UWA professor Dr Da Silva Rosa said live on radio on “we’re in a country were we actually should have quite cheap energy, but we don’t.” 
 
“Even the experts are voicing concerns with this Labor Government’s policies, and that should tell them that they have got it wrong – this mob have forgotten how to listen.” 
 
“It’s clear that Labor’s Net Zero obsession is crippling Australian industry by driving power prices up. We’ve seen it locally with Albemarle lithium refinery closing it’s doors earlier this year. So much for a Future Made in Australia, because in reality our remaining manufacturing is being pushed offshore so we’ll be left with a Future Made Everywhere Else.” 
 
“Labor have turned its back on affordable and reliable energy in Australia.” 
 
Within 30 days of being elected, the Liberals will introduce the Scrap Net Zero (Cheaper Energy) Bill. 
 
The legislation will:

• Scrap the Net Zero target, which currently exists in law. 
 
• Remove the Safeguard Mechanism, a secret carbon tax that places costs on productive industries and drives jobs offshore. 
 
• Scrap Labor’s family car and ute tax, which drives up the cost of some of Australia’s favourite vehicles and limits consumer choice. 
 
• Cancel four offshore wind zones including the Geographe Bay wind zone and create a code of conduct for renewable developers to ensure they earn community support. 
 
• Lift the ban on nuclear energy, giving Australia the opportunity to access reliable power that can run around the clock. 
 
• Make federal funding and the energy regulator prioritise cheaper, reliable power. 
 
Mr Small highlighted how the policy to scrap the offshore wind zone in Geographe Bay is a crucial step forward. 
 
“Chris Bowen’s offshore wind proposal in Geographe Bay is a peculiar form of madness.”  
 
“Since before the last election, thousands of local people have either signed my petition or spoken to me about their personal opposition to this. This Liberal policy delivers the message that your local voice has been heard and is being backed by the Liberals, just as it was before the election. Unlike the Prime Minister, I don’t say one thing before an election and then a completely different thing afterwards.” 
 
“The numbers have never added up in Geographe Bay. The CSIRO GenCost report states that offshore wind is three times more expensive than even onshore wind.” 
 
“Chris Bowen’s obsession with putting these in our Bay risks making our precious South West region ground zero for his Net Zero madness.” 
 
Mr Small said the Liberal plan would put three principles at the centre of energy policy: affordability, reliability and security. 
 
“Prime Minister Albanese and Minister Bowen have lied to Australians about energy - they promised your power bill would fall by $275, but electricity has instead risen by nearly 40%. Their renewables only green dream is costing Australians billions.” 
 
“Our plan will back any technology that can deliver the most affordable and reliable power in Australia, including coal, gas, hydro, nuclear, batteries and renewables in the right places. 
 
“Because less money spent on your power bill means more for you.” 
 
 
ENDS