April 2, 2025
Advocacy group Parents for Climate applauds the Economics References Senate Committee report into residential electrification this week and calls for parties across the spectrum to back in the report’s findings with strong election commitments.
Parents for Climate CEO Nic Seton said he was pleased to see bipartisan agreement on the benefits of home electrification and now calls on the major parties to support what has long been understood by experts: electrification is the best and quickest way to permanently bring down power bills.
“Our research over several years has shown the potentially dramatic cost-savings that home electrification can bring," Mr Seton said. "While it’s refreshing to see these common-sense findings are supported by a cross partisan committee, we’re yet to see the major parties reflect these permanent solutions to cost-of-living pressures in their election platforms.
“We surveyed more than 1,400 families, and those who own their homes and are on higher incomes are choosing to save money by electrifying their appliances and getting off expensive gas. But those who rent or who can’t afford the upfront cost of upgrades, are locked into paying high costs. In a cost-of-living crisis, Australian families need governments to do more to remove these barriers.
“Bill-busting energy solutions are the focus of our advocacy efforts in the lead up to the federal election. We’re asking all federal election candidates to pledge their support for clean energy upgrades that cut the cost of living.
“217 candidates have already pledged, representing 117 lower house electorates and 10 political parties, including Family First and One Nation. So we know there’s grassroots support all across the political spectrum for these reforms. Now we need action.
“Australian families who are struggling with the cost of living need major party platforms to reflect this common sense. All party platforms need to clearly demonstrate how they’ll support cost-saving clean energy upgrades for families.”
For more information or interviews, contact Nic Seton, CEO Parents for Climate: 0407 638 973, nic@parentsforclimate.org
ENDS
BACKGROUND:
Report: The Real Cost of Living: How the energy crisis is hurting Australian families (2022)
Report: Under Pressure: The climate crunch fuelling inflation and hurting Aussie families (2024, with Climate Council)
Parents for Climate federal election candidate pledge: Protect What You Love
ABOUT PARENTS FOR CLIMATE
Parents for Climate is Australia’s leading climate advocacy organisation for parents, carers, families and all who care about a safe future for kids, representing over 20,000 parents. Parents for Climate has been at the forefront of securing renewable energy in schools, such as the NSW Smart Energy School Pilot Project. Founded in 2019 by six regional, rural and urban mums in four states and territories, Parents for Climate is a parent organisation, run by parents for parents. Parents for Climate exists to secure ambitious climate action for the love of our kids.
