Millions of Australians are right now struggling with the cost of living, not least of which the cost of power.
And it wasn’t meant to be this way.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said 97 times in the lead up to his election that he would reduce the cost of power prices by $275 if only we voted for him.
So we voted for lower power prices, and got higher ones.
Last week energy companies revealed they had sent debt collectors to more than 12,000 Queensland households in the first three months of the year.
But if you’re one of those people struggling to pay your power bill, fear not. Energy Minister Chris Bowen went on the ABC last night with a plan, if not a decent tie.
The policy mastermind told 730 host Sarah Ferguson …
“You can reduce your power bill very substantially by putting solar panels on your roof.”
That’s it. That was his plan.
Allow me to summarise …
Australians who can’t afford to pay their power bills should install solar panels which they also can’t afford.
By using money they don’t have, to purchase solar panels they can’t pay for, people will have cheaper electricity and therefore fulfil the government’s promise to reduce power prices.
Never let it be said that Chris Bowen is not a genius.
But what if we don’t all extend our mortgages to buy solar panels? When will power prices come down?
He told Ferguson:
“Well, power prices are fluctuating internationally. There is a lot of pressure coming out of Europe at the moment. There’s a lot of changes in the European situation with the war in Ukraine which we’re monitoring closely and will provide further updates on that as we can.”
Ah, it’s the Russians! Vladimir Putin ate Bowen’s homework.
It’s Putin who has been closing our coal fired power stations.
It’s Putin who has been preventing us from accessing our natural gas deposits.
When will power bills come down? When the Russians say so.
So the energy minister Chris Bowen is “monitoring closely” the war in Ukraine and will “provide further updates on that”!
Power prices are never coming down. This government is hopeless.
Old mate beadie eyes thinks we are all stupid. I could probably afford solar panels but my issue is that they are made in China. I have not been able to source a fully Australian made system. Additionally, there is the issue of toxic substances leaking from these panels and since we are on tank water which comes off our roof I am concerned. Solar panels are not recycled at the moment either. So this boofhead is clearly wearing blinkers and can only see one solution which is not really a solution at all. Seriously, how did this clueless fool get the job of Energy minister.
Spot on James! This government is HOPELESS!