The Albanese Labor Government’s unsafe and unaffordable home battery subsidy program has cost taxpayers a mammoth $4.63 billion to date.

At Senate Estimates today, officials confirmed that from 1 July 2025 to 27 September 2026, $4.63 billion had been spent on the program, more than half of the program’s $8.5 billion lifetime budget.

Asked to defend the program, which was redesigned earlier this year, departmental officials said:
“There was a higher level of expenditure in the first year because the original program settings were considered to be too generous.”

According to a Senate Question on Notice, at the outset of the program, the Department had expected “anticipated support per battery” to be $4,500. However, the average support actually provided per battery between July and December 2025 was $7,910.

Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Dan Tehan said Labor’s spending addiction was adding to inflation.

“Chris Bowen is addicted to spending taxpayer money on his Net Zero obsession,” Mr Tehan said.

“More than 60 per cent of Mr Bowen’s batteries have been found to be substandard and Labor has allowed the scheme to be infiltrated by fraudsters.

“Mr Bowen has overseen a massive blowout in Snowy 2.0, his Pre-COP world tour and Australians’ energy bills; he should apologise and resign.”

ENDS

Media contact: Phil Connole M | 0417 063 605