Party cites 20 eagle deaths at one NSW project
Family First has renewed its attack on wind farm subsidies after reporting that one NSW project killed 20 wedge-tailed eagles in 18 months.
Lyle Shelton, the party’s national director and lead NSW Legislative Council candidate, argued the deaths and fresh subsidy bids show net zero is failing economically and environmentally.
According to Family First, reporting in The Australian found wind developers are seeking extra support through the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, despite already receiving federal underwriting.
Under that roadmap, consumers pay the cost through power charges rather than general taxation. Shelton used that point to argue households face a second energy-policy bill.
“NSW families are being hit with a double tax on net zero, once through their taxes and again through their power bills, all to prop up wind projects that can’t survive without endless subsidies,” Shelton said.
Power prices and household debt
Family First tied its criticism to energy costs. Shelton cited power prices that have more than tripled since the mid-2000s and risen another 21% in the past year.
He also pointed to hardship figures, saying one in five households is now in energy hardship or close to it. The same share has skipped meals to keep the lights on.
Among older Australians, 41% are rationing heating in winter and cooling in summer, according to the figures used by Shelton.
Across Australia, 340,000 customers are in long-term energy debt averaging $1,367.
Meanwhile, Shelton linked electricity prices to industry losses, citing 39,400 manufacturing jobs lost over two years.
Coal, gas and nuclear plan
Shelton also broadened the argument to land use and wildlife. He cited wedge-tailed eagle deaths, bulldozed koala habitat and cleared native forest.
Australia produces 1% of global emissions, Shelton said, and he argued that does not justify the impact on farmland, forests and native animals.
“Family First will end the Net Zero targets, abolish renewable subsidies, ban subsidised wind and solar on agricultural land, native forest and virgin land, keep every coal-fired power station open, unlock our gas reserves and green-light nuclear power,” Shelton said.
Family First called on parties contesting the next NSW state election to put affordability ahead of emissions targets and consumer-funded renewable subsidies.
