MEDIA RELEASE
13 August 2026
Families Pay for Net Zero Twice — While Global Emissions Keep Rising: Shelton
Family First National Director Lyle Shelton says the $2.5 billion taxpayer bailout announced for the Tomago aluminium smelter proves what every family already knows from their own power bills — that Net Zero’s real cost is being charged twice, once at the meter and once through the tax system, while global emissions keep climbing regardless.
The Sydney Morning Herald today revealed the Tomago Aluminium smelter near Newcastle will receive a $2.5 billion rescue package from the Albanese and Minns Governments to keep the plant open beyond 2028, when its power contract expires and electricity costs are set to double. The deal follows a string of taxpayer-funded bailouts for energy-intensive industry over the past two years, including $2 billion for Rio Tinto’s Boyne smelter in Queensland, $2.4 billion for the collapsed Whyalla steelworks in South Australia and $600 million for Glencore’s Mt Isa copper operations — taking total taxpayer support for struggling metals processors to more than $7.5 billion.
The bailout comes despite Rio Tinto, Tomago’s majority owner, last month reporting a $9.5 billion half-year profit, up 47 per cent on the year before.
“Whether it lands in your power bill or your tax bill, every family in NSW is paying through the nose for the Net Zero fantasy,” said Mr Shelton. “Tomago’s power costs are set to double because reliable generation is being torn down faster than anything can replace it, and when energy-intensive industry can’t cope, government just reaches into taxpayers’ pockets again to paper over the cracks. Families are being hit twice for the same failed policy.”
Global data shows carbon emissions continuing to climb even as Australian households and industry absorb the cost of the transition.
“And what are we actually getting for it? Global carbon emissions keep going up no matter how much NSW families sacrifice,” said Mr Shelton. “This isn’t climate policy, it’s pointless blind ideology — we are shutting down affordable power and handing billions to a multinational, and the planet doesn’t notice the difference. If Net Zero can’t even bend the global emissions curve, what exactly are Australian families being asked to pay for?”
“Rio Tinto is making $9.5 billion for its shareholders but needs $2.5 billion from struggling families to keep its own smelter running,” said Mr Shelton. “Meanwhile those same families are told to feel guilty for turning on their heater. Family First says end the corporate welfare, be honest about what Net Zero actually costs, and stop pretending a policy that doesn’t move the global emissions needle is worth every family’s cost of living.”
Family First is calling on the NSW and Federal Governments to:
- Publish the full, combined cost to taxpayers of every subsidy, rebate and bailout linked to the Net Zero transition, so families can see the true bill;
- Explain why families paying record power prices are also being asked to fund billion-dollar bailouts caused by the same policy that is driving those prices up;
- Keep reliable coal and gas generation open until genuine, cost-competitive replacement capacity exists, rather than closing it to a fixed political timetable; and
- Commit to a technology-neutral energy policy that puts affordable, reliable power for families ahead of Net Zero ideology.
ENDS
Lyle Shelton is Family First’s National Director, NSW Legislative Council lead candidate.
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