Following Chris Bowen’s failure to yesterday guarantee that all taxpayer-subsidised home batteries are being installed safely and to technical requirements, new documents obtained by the Opposition under Freedom of Information laws reveal further safety blackspots.

According to the Clean Energy Regulator, as at 26 August 2026, more than 200 compliance advisory letters and 31 warning letters to installers have been issued.

In addition, documents released to the Senate last month reveal that as at February 2026, there have been 22 “sub-standard inspections” – a new data point on the efficacy of the program’s inspections regime that is not elsewhere publicly available. The data point is contained in a “Ministerial Update” from the Clean Energy Regulator.

Despite more than 500,000 batteries being installed under this program to date, only 3,425 safety inspections have been conducted as of 30 June 2026. Of those inspected batteries, 62 per cent have been found to be sub-standard.

Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Dan Tehan said Australians were being put at risk under the program.

“Chris Bowen is more interested in spin, spending and his Presidential duties than he is on protecting Australians from the fraudsters who have been allowed to infiltrate this scheme.”

“The Opposition repeats its call for the battery program to be paused, for an inquiry to be established, and for a comprehensive safety audit to be conducted.”

Yesterday in Question Time, Chris Bowen said allegations of fraud impacting the $8.5 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program were a “lie” and declined to reveal when he was first advised of fraud issues.

Battery-related complaints to the ACCC have surged by 107 per cent and the consumer watchdog has said there are “gaps” in the current regulatory regime.
The Shadow Minister has again written to the Auditor-General concerning the program.

ENDS

Media contact: Phil Connole M | 0417 063 605