As someone who has spent more than 20 years as a social researcher, I’ve never seen anything like it. Across the country, the one concern dominating people’s minds is clear: the cost of living. Whether you’re talking to parents or pensioners, teachers or tradies, it’s the same issue, dwarfing any other concerns. Nothing else even comes close.
It’s no surprise, then, that we’re heading towards a cost-of-living election. And, if you believe the polls, it’s going to be the closest election we’ve had in a while.
By expanding people’s access to cheap and reliable renewable energy, the Albanese government could put money back in the pockets of all Australians.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, iStock
While Australians struggle with rising grocery prices, mortgage repayments, rent hikes and energy bills, all they’ve heard is politicians talking about policies that might sound good on paper, but they aren’t sure will ease the cost of living. Frankly, they are fed up.
In focus groups, I encounter retirees looking to return to work, couples discussing whether they can afford to start a family and well-paid couples without children still living modestly from paycheck to paycheck. As a man in regional NSW said to me a few weeks ago, “everything’s going up, and I’ve just got to grin and bear it”.
The public is receptive to real solutions, not small-target, incremental change. They don’t care if the government has to spend money to get there. Gone are the days when fears about “budget blowouts” dominated public discourse. Australians want the government to invest in their future, with public spending that will make a real material difference in their day-to-day lives.
What can they do? We need only to look at the countless polls, focus groups or conversations all of us have had to know that at the top of everyone’s wish-list is bringing down the cost of housing and energy. By massively expanding people’s access to cheap and reliable renewable energy, the Albanese government could help lower energy bills for good and put money back in the pockets of all Australians right now.
We’re already a world leader in rooftop solar, with more than 3.5 million homes enjoying the benefits.Credit: Bloomberg
It’s not just good economic policy – it’s popular. Recent research conducted by my firm found that overwhelmingly people believe that renewables could bring down their energy bills faster and more dramatically than anything else – including nuclear.
Voters want and expect government action to bring down power bills, and they’re smart enough to understand that rooftop solar, battery storage and grid upgrades are the fastest, most direct ways to relieve pressure. The technology is here. What’s missing is the conviction and ambition across the political spectrum to make it accessible to everyone and maximise the potential savings.