Labor's Energy Crisis Hits Families In Barker

THE HON DAN TEHAN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR ENERGY AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION

TONY PASIN MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BARKER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SCRUTINY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

Labor's Energy Crisis Hits Families In Barker

Shocking new data has revealed the impact the Albanese Labor Government’s disastrous energy policies are having on local families.

According to the Australian Energy Regulator, 21,287 families in South Australia were unable to pay their power bills over October to December 2025.

Since Labor was elected in 2022, 7,619 households have recorded hardship, a 56% increase from when the Coalition was in office.

Nationally, 230,000 households are in energy distress – up by nearly 70 per cent in just 3.5 years, the highest level of hardship on record.

Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Dan Tehan, said the federal government’s energy policies had failed to deliver affordable energy.

“Under Labor, power bills are up nearly 40 per cent because the government has chosen to rip the guts out of our energy system,” Mr Tehan said.

“A lack of baseload power and sufficient supply is pushing up prices, and that is showing up as higher prices every time Australians open their power bill.

“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to cut power bills by $275 but Australian households have not seen that promised reduction.”

Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP said the energy crisis was heaping pressure on local households.

“With inflation and interest rates rising as well as power bills, my office has been inundated with locals telling me they’re at breaking point. It’s heartbreaking,” Mr Pasin said.

“Behind this new data are people in our community who are really struggling to make ends meet, yet all they get from the federal government are broken promises.

“I’ll keep fighting for a more stable, reliable energy grid that puts the needs of Australians first, not one-size-fits-all mandates and targets that we can’t practically achieve.”