Your say: Aussies reveal what they think about nuclear power and soaring electricity prices

Our readers have weighed in on rising energy prices, as the political blame game heats up, and a large majority say it will influence how they vote at the federal election.

Readers have slammed soaring electricity prices as they reveal they feel lied to and that the key issue will influence how they plan to vote in the federal election.

It comes after Peter Dutton called for Energy Minister Chris Bowen to be sacked over the latest energy price increase, declaring him a “disaster” and “total failure”.

The Opposition Leader blamed the energy price hike on Anthony Albanese’s energy policy, and said Mr Bowen “deserves to lose his job over forcing up the electricity prices of Australians yet again”.

Benchmark electricity prices are set to rise by as much as $200 a year from July, to be $800 higher than when Anthony Albanese promised to cut power bills by $275 by increasing the supply of renewables.

Peter Dutton called for Chris Bowen to be sacked over the latest energy price increase. Picture: Tara Croser

Chris Bowen faces pressure as benchmark electricity prices are set to go up by as much as $200 a year from July. Picture: Christian Gilles / NewsWire

A staggering 86 per cent of 3108 readers who voted in a poll said the power price hikes would influence how they vote at the federal election, while 12 per cent said it wouldn’t, and two per cent remained unsure.

A total of 2117 readers voted in another poll where 92% said they supported nuclear power in Australia while six per cent said they didn’t, and two per cent were unsure.

The story attracted more than 760 comments from readers, here is what you said.

ALBO LIED TO AUSTRALIANS

Peter

“Still waiting on a $275 reduction to electricity bills you promised Albo and Bowen - where is it??”

James

“Albo lied to every Australian, he said power bills would be $275 less but they’re in general $4000 more. He said he wouldn’t change the already legislated tax deductions but he did and don’t forget it’s no longer tied to CPI so we will all pay more tax. He said he wouldn’t change superannuation rules but he has. He denies a desire to introduce a death tax so what does that tell you?”

What about

“When will Bowen release timeline and costs for when renewables will allow coal power plants to close. Oh that’s right never because renewables will never be able to replace coal power plants.”

T. Ferguson

“Let’s face it, Albo and his ship of fools, are taking us down a path to economic hardship as they push their green climate agenda that’s based on the premise that Chris Bowen can change the word’s climate. Are we really that stupid to vote for these incompetents again?”

Aussies have pointed out they are still waiting on a $275 reduction to electricity bills Anthony Albanese promised.

ACHIEVING NET ZERO IS TOO AMBITIOUS

Karen

“Net zero = zero economic growth, zero social cohesion, zero energy price stability, zero chance of energy bills coming down, zero chance of the cost of living being tackled properly, zero chance of the government changing its policies resulting in higher inflation, lower purchasing power and managing to be divisive over Israel.”

William

“We cannot afford this lunacy of net zero…. It will make no difference in the world unless India & China change their ways. We are going backwards for no reason.”

Nina

“We have to do our bit to reduce the greenhouse gases but not to the detriment of the country. We are responsible for only 1% of the emission. Whilst the greatest polluters like China, India has not even started to reduce. US is getting out of Paris agreement. Rise in energy bills will drive the manufacturing to energy cheap countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, whilst our workers loose jobs. This is absolute madness. Labor is decimating every one. Another 3 years of Labor will make Australia a third world country.”

Danny

“If only we had a better alternative to the irrational Labor & Greens looneys. As for the Liberals, their idiotic net zero targets are even sillier than Labor’s! What we need is a political party that promises what Trump has delivered for the USA: Get the heck out of the useless and costly Paris Agreement and “drill, baby drill”!

Benchmark electricity prices are set to rise by as much as $200 a year from July, to be $800 higher than when Anthony Albanese promised to cut power bills by $275 by increasing the supply of renewables. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

BOWEN NEEDS TO GO

Declassified

“We will be paying for Bowen’s stuff up for at least a generation. How on earth did he pass any maths test, can’t he add up?”

Jasmine

“Shop around for a new government! Bowen has to go.”

Stuart_

“Bowen is incompetent and Albo and the ALP do not know what they are doing nor the consequences of their actions. Please announce the election date so we know when we can get rid of this ‘government’!”

John

“Of course he should be sacked, and if he was part of any other government he would have been well before now, problem is that our ‘leader’ is on the same political wavelength as Bowen so the chances of him being sacked from an Albanese government are less than zero . It’s up to us to give them both the sack ourselves in a matter of weeks.”

OPPOSITION WOULDN’T DO ANY BETTER

Bruce13

“Dutton continues to show how utterly clueless he is! He needs to sack himself and the rest of his clueless ministers for backing his totally unproven and horrendously expensive small nuclear reactor scheme! He refuses to read numerous unbiased reports which all show that renewable energy is the best form of electricity production for Australia! Over 180 countries have agreed that renewable energy is the way of the future and are increasing their renewable energy programs! But Dutton is not smart enough to work that out so all he does is ridicule, abuse and call for our best politicians like Bowen to be sacked!!”

Albert E

“Maybe labor should have done what the liberals did before the last election and hide the increase until after the election. With the liberals it’s do as I say and not what I did.”

Dutton’s delcons

“Goodness, what about those renewable transition lines? let’s hear what Angus Taylor said about them when he was the former energy minister. Angus Taylor said on renewable transmission lines ‘our investment in this project will support reliable electricity supply, deliver substantial cost savings, and help keep the lights on.........’

Oh ok, it’s all ok now because that’s what was said before they were beaten in the 2022 election. So Bowen is wrong now is he? Is that because of the tantrums from the Noalition? Maybe it was all ok when they were in office, but now they are not in office it changes? Isn’t that hypocrisy??”

John

“Dutton should look at his inept shadow ministry and realise Taylor, Ley, Cash are a waste of time and breadth and get rid of them. Like Dutton, totally unelectable.”

Originally published as Your say: Aussies reveal what they think about nuclear power and soaring electricity prices