A majority of Australians are unwilling to pay any additional costs to support the transition to net zero, with 51.7 per cent of respondents rejecting even a $1 increase to their energy bills. According to polling by Compass Polling for Affordable Energy Australia (AEA), concerns over the rising cost of living have eclipsed support for emissions targets, as household energy debt reaches an average of $1,367.
Public Sentiment and the Cost of Living Crisis
The AEA poll reveals a significant disconnect between government climate goals and household financial reality. While the federal government has legislated net zero emissions targets by 2050 via the Climate Change Act 2022, 73.8 per cent of Australians surveyed stated they would not pay more than $50 to facilitate this transition. Among those who pay electricity bills, the average respondent was willing to contribute only about 5 per cent of their annual power bill toward the shift.
AEA spokesperson Zoe Hilton stated that Australians are “sick and tired” of persistent bill increases. “We need affordability first in our energy system,” Hilton said. “We don’t want ideology. We want economics.” The organization estimates that one in five households is currently experiencing energy hardship, a situation compounded by a 220 per cent increase in electricity prices since 2004.
Did you know?
Average household energy debt in Australia has climbed to $1,367, according to data from Affordable Energy Australia.
CSIRO GenCost Projections vs. Public Trust
The debate over energy costs is further complicated by a lack of public confidence in official data. According to the Compass Polling research, only 27.6 per cent of Australians trust the CSIRO’s estimates regarding the cost of reaching net zero. Conversely, 42 per cent of respondents expressed explicit distrust in the organization’s projections, while 30.8 per cent remained undecided.
This skepticism follows criticism of the CSIRO’s reporting methodologies, which some observers argue have failed to account for total system costs. The CSIRO’s 2025-26 GenCost report itself predicts that achieving net zero in the electricity sector alone will increase costs by 13 to 29 per cent. Furthermore, new modelling from the CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator suggests that generation costs—currently between $80 and $90 per megawatt hour—will climb to an average of $125 per megawatt hour by 2050.
Political Battle Over Energy Policy
The divide over the transition has created a sharp political wedge. The Albanese government maintains that renewable energy, supported by storage and firming technologies, will provide a cheaper and more reliable grid in the long term. This strategy serves as the foundation for Australia’s climate commitments.
The Coalition has challenged this approach, favoring an “energy agnostic” strategy that includes ending the moratorium on nuclear energy to prioritize baseload power. Meanwhile, One Nation has advocated for the expansion of coal-fired generation and the removal of subsidies for wind and solar projects. As these policy frameworks compete, the AEA has launched a national petition calling for leaders to prioritize affordability and reliability above current transition goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Australians unwilling to pay more for net zero?
Polling indicates that the ongoing cost of living crisis, combined with historical increases in electricity prices—up 220 per cent since 2004—has left households unable or unwilling to absorb further costs for the energy transition.
What does the CSIRO predict for future electricity costs?
The CSIRO’s 2025-26 GenCost report projects that reaching net zero in the electricity system will increase costs by 13 to 29 per cent, with generation costs rising to $125 per megawatt hour by 2050.
What is the Coalition’s position on the energy transition?
The Coalition argues for an “energy agnostic” grid, advocating for the removal of the moratorium on nuclear energy and a focus on traditional baseload power to ensure reliability and affordability.
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