Reports today in the Australian Financial Review about the still unchecked rollout of Labor’s home battery program should be read with interest by Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Under Labor, the taxpayer-funded battery subsidy started with a budget of $2.3 billion and has blown out to $8.5 billion.

As revealed in Senate Estimates last week, $3.95 billion was expended on the scheme during its first year in operation, against a budget of $3.4 billion.

To 27 September 2026, total expenditure is at a whopping $4.63 billion.

Also at Senate Estimates, Mr Bowen’s department conceded that the initial design of the scheme was “too generous” and rolled out with only “very little information.”

Fraudsters and shonks have been allowed to infiltrate the scheme and battery-related complaints to the ACCC have surged by 107 per cent.

According to the latest data from the Clean Energy Regulator, more than 60 per cent of inspected batteries have been found to be sub-standard.

If Treasurer Chalmers wants to seriously tackle inflation, he should start by stopping Bowen’s batteries blowout – and then continue with Labor’s Net Zero agenda.

ENDS

Media contact: Phil Connole M | 0417 063 605