Consumers face higher costs and unreliable energy under Labor’s bungled transition

Media Release | 28 August 2025
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Hon Dr Steve Thomas MLC
Shadow Minister for Energy
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Shadow Energy Minister Dr Steve Thomas has warned Western Australians they will pay more for power while enduring a less reliable electricity supply as the Cook Labor Government’s energy transition program falls further behind schedule.

Dr Thomas said questioning of Western Power during Budget Estimates in the Legislative Council had exposed a number of alarming failures.

He said the Government’s $930 million underground power program was already $209 million behind schedule in its first two years.

“Further, the Government’s much-touted $7 billion “energy infrastructure budget” is a sham, with just $1.6 billion of actual new funding for transmission over four years, barely enough to cover a single project,” he said.

“We also learned that of the $6 billion Western Power will spend on future network upgrades, a staggering 93 per cent will be borrowed, debt that families and businesses will be forced to repay through higher power bills.

“The Cook Labor Government keeps talking about a clean energy future, but the reality is a future of unreliable supply and skyrocketing costs.

“Families who have already been hammered by cost-of-living pressures will now face higher energy bills because Labor is paying for the transition with borrowed money that must be repaid with interest.”

Dr Thomas said the Government’s failure to deliver on critical transmission and undergrounding projects could also leave households and businesses exposed to more blackouts and supply interruptions.

“Western Australians expect a reliable energy system, but Labor’s delays and underfunding are leaving our network vulnerable,” he said.

“Instead of a plan that secures affordable and reliable energy, we’ve been left with spin, debt and broken promises. The cost of this failure will be paid by every WA family and small business for years to come.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Dr Steve Thomas 0427 908 717

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