CSIRO Confirms It: Coal And Gas Are Cheaper, But NSW Labor Keeps Doubling Down On Net Zero
Family First Party
KEY FACTS:
· The CSIRO's latest GenCost report, reported by The Sydney Morning Herald on 15 July 2026, found electricity from a coal and gas-heavy grid would cost $124/MWh by 2050 (in today's dollars), compared with $131/MWh under the current renewables-led net zero plan — a saving of at least 5 per cent.
· The HumeLink transmission project, connecting Snowy Hydro and southern NSW renewable energy zones to Sydney, has blown out from an original estimate of $1.3 billion to about $4.9 billion.
· Other NSW transmission projects, including the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone link and the NSW section of VNI West, are forecast to cost a further $5-6 billion and up to $5.5 billion respectively.
· Farmers and regional communities across southern NSW, including near Kosciuszko National Park, have strongly opposed the HumeLink route.
· Family First's energy policy calls for ending net zero targets, abolishing renewable subsidies, keeping and reinvesting in coal-fired power stations, unlocking gas exploration, and greenlighting nuclear power.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 July 2026
CSIRO Confirms It: Coal And Gas Are Cheaper, But NSW Labor Keeps Doubling Down On Net Zero
Family First's Lyle Shelton says the CSIRO's own modelling proves what he has warned for years: NSW households are paying billions in transmission blowouts and other costs for a net zero transition that will cost families more. He is calling on the NSW Government to keep Eraring open for the long term, halt further transmission cost blowouts, and give NSW the nuclear option Family First has long championed.
A new CSIRO GenCost report, reported by The SMH on 15 July 2026, has found that a grid built on more coal and gas would deliver electricity at $124 per megawatt hour by 2050, compared with $131 per megawatt hour under the current renewables-heavy net zero plan — a saving of 5 per cent. Family First's Lyle Shelton says the finding exposes the true cost of the NSW Government's own energy transition, which has already blown out by billions of dollars.
“The NSW Government has bulldozed farms, blown billions on transmission lines, with the costs being paid for by NSW families,” said Mr Shelton. “That's not a transition plan, that's an ideological boondoggle.”
The state's flagship HumeLink transmission project, built to connect renewable energy zones to Sydney, has blown out from an original estimate of $1.3 billion to about $4.9 billion, with the cost flowing through to household and business power bills.
“Families and farmers along the HumeLink route have had their land carved up for a project nearly four times over budget,” said Mr Shelton. “NSW families are footing the bill for the transmission blowouts now, and the CSIRO report indicates that this will continue to 2050.”
Family First's energy policy calls for an end to net zero targets, a halt to renewable subsidies, keeping the state's remaining coal plants open and reinvesting in it with newer technology, unlocking NSW's gas reserves, and greenlighting nuclear power — an option currently locked out of NSW and Australia by law.
“NSW families deserve affordable, secure and reliable power, not billion-dollar blowouts and ideological flights of fancy dressed up as a plan,” said Mr Shelton. “Family First will end the net zero gamble, keep the lights on, and put NSW families first.”
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CSIRO GenCost Report
