Australians Misled on True Cost, Says Shelton
Lyle Shelton, Family First National Director and NSW Legislative Council candidate, has called for an urgent parliamentary inquiry into the $1 trillion cost of the energy transition in New South Wales and Victoria. This demand follows revelations that Australians were misled about the true expense of moving to renewable energy.
If elected in March 2024, Shelton stated that Family First would immediately initiate a full inquiry into what commentator Terry McCrann has labelled as 'the biggest financial disaster since Federation.'
"Taxpayers and electricity bill payers were never told this transition would cost anywhere near $1 trillion," Shelton said. "They were told renewables would be cheaper. That claim has now been completely exposed."
Escalating Costs and Public Impact
The costs have escalated from early estimates of billions for transmission infrastructure to hundreds of billions, reaching a trillion when financing is included, Shelton explained. He described the situation as a 'catastrophic failure of planning, transparency and honesty.'
"Australians have been misled," Shelton added. "The true cost has been hidden, and now families are paying the price through soaring electricity bills and a cost-of-living crisis that shows no sign of easing."
Shelton warned that financing the renewables rollout over decades would lock in high power prices for a generation, making Australia less competitive and increasing the financial pressure on households.
An inquiry is essential to examine how initial costings were so dramatically wrong, who was aware of the risks, and why governments continued with the plans, Shelton emphasised.
He also expressed concern about the impact on regional communities and agricultural land due to the extensive rollout of transmission lines and energy zones.
"Our farmers are being asked to sacrifice productive land for a scheme that is fast becoming an economic disaster," he said.
Only a fraction of the total projected spending has been committed so far, suggesting there is still time to avert a national crisis. "This inquiry must be the first step in stopping a nation-crushing mistake before it is too late," Shelton concluded.
The inquiry would aim to uncover who signed off on these estimates, what assumptions were made, and why Australians were not informed of the full costs. "We need answers to some very serious questions," Shelton asserted.
Last updated: 14 April 2026, 3:20 pm
