Labor’s plan to back a five-fold increase in new renewable energy across Australia will have profoundly damaging consequences on regional Australia and accelerate the rising cost of living, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s panicked market intervention risks the stability of the grid and hurt Australian families. Minister Bowen is driving his 82 per cent renewables agenda at great cost to taxpayers through tripling the Capacity Investment Scheme.

“Labor will rip up farming land in a desperate attempt to reach their irresponsible target. Without a stable grid, supply will be volatile and prices will keep rising. In a cost of living crisis, reducing agricultural productivity will see families paying more for their food at the checkout.’ Dr Webster said.

“Labor must tell taxpayers, communities and struggling families, how many hectares of productive agricultural land will be destroyed by Labor’s reckless renewables rush?”

Under Labor the price of food has increased by 8.2 per cent, gas by 28 per cent and electricity by 18 per cent.

“I fear Federal Labor and Labor states will abandon proper environmental approvals because Chris Bowen doesn’t want to miss his impossible electoral promise. Labor must guarantee rigour and transparency, not shortcuts for their pet projects.

“The Nationals believe nuclear energy must be part of the conversation, as it is across the developed world. We must let the market decide about the best energy options, rather than taxpayers and small business having to do all the heavy lifting.

“A future Coalition government will put an end to Labor’s reckless renewables-or-bust mentality and spare Australians from sky-rocketing energy, food and other price rises.”