Diverse groups band together to press Kean on soaring energy costs

Media release:

30 November 2022 

About 200 representatives from a wide range of organisations and communities gathered and met with the Hon. Matt Kean in Parramatta on Wednesday night to urge the NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister to tackle the soaring cost of energy. 

As part of the diverse coalition that makes up the Sydney Alliance, church, mosque and temple leaders, union, charity and not-for-profit representatives, researchers, and other community members from across Sydney met with Mr. Kean at Parramatta Mission, where they asked him to commit to measures that would curb surging power bills. 

Deepthi Mathew, Social Justice Advocate for Uniting and one of the assembly’s organisers, said those who were most affected by extreme weather and energy costs usually couldn't access cheap energy such as solar. 

“Rising energy bills and cost of living are a result of climate change, and people of modest means bear the brunt of these high costs,” she told the assembly. “The government can and should act on these concerns, particularly if they want to be re-elected in March.” 

Linh Phuong Do, who helped organise the assembly, said she tried to use electricity and gas sparingly at the apartment she rented in North Parramatta. 

“If I turned on the fan, it would only be during the peak, when it gets really, really hot,” she said. “But then the bill always ends up shocking anyway.”  

Do said her home was not energy efficient but that it needed to be, especially as temperatures get higher with climate change. 

Dr Caroline Valente, Senior Policy Associate at Energy Consumers Australia, told the assembly that three quarters of existing homes have an energy efficiency rating below 3 out of 10 stars. 

“That’s three quarters of homes that are so inefficient that they become unsafe during a heatwave or a cold snap,” she said. “By 2050, we expect higher average temperatures, hotter days, and longer heatwaves. If our inefficient homes are dangerous now, they could become the next serial killers in the near future. 

“Upgrading these homes so they’re more energy efficient is one of the most effective ways of reducing power bills, keeping people healthy, and addressing climate change. We need the NSW Government to make this happen,” Dr Valente said. 

On stage, the assembly’s co-chairs asked Mr. Kean if he would reconfirm the government’s commitment to minimum energy efficiency standards for rentals, if they would support households transition from gas to more efficient home appliances, and if they would consider an energy hub to help communities access government schemes and get the best energy deals. 

The co-chairs also asked Mr. Kean to commit to attending another Sydney Alliance assembly of 800 community members in March, ahead of the state election. 

The NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister said the government remained committed to energy efficiency upgrades for homes and that he would come back to an assembly in March with the government’s position on an energy hub and support for households to transition away from gas. 

“If we are going to get to net zero then household gas is not going to be the answer, particularly for new builds,” Mr. Kean said. “We are currently working out what our policy is going to be... We will come back to the Alliance.” 

Contact Saimi Jeong, Sydney Alliance Communications Coordinator, sjeong@sydneyalliance.org.au