CHRIS BOWEN MP
MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY

JOSH WILSON MP
ASSITANT MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY

SENATOR NITA GREEN
SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND

MATT SMITH
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR LEICHHARDT 


BUILDING AUSTRALIA’S RELIABLE RENEWABLE FUTURE WITH CAIRNS COMMUNITY BATTERY SWITCHED ON
 

The Far North will now get even more out of their abundant sunlight, with the Cairns community battery now powering homes with reliable, locally produced, renewable energy. 

While Labor is building Australia’s future and delivering the clean, cheap, reliable and resilient energy system that Australians deserve, Peter Dutton is promising to cut everything except your taxes. 

The Albanese Government, in partnership with Ergon Energy, is delivering two batteries in Cairns North, under the Community Batteries for Household Solar Program. 

Any profits made from the battery will fund community grants for local renewable energy projects and energy efficiency upgrades, helping bring power bills down for good.

Projects could include solar panels for a church run community hall, energy efficient LED lighting for sporting clubs or new air conditioning for childcare centres. 

The two pole-mounted batteries will help stabilise the grid and improve reliability – they soak up excess solar during the day and send it back to the grid at night when electricity demand is at its peak.

By improving energy reliability, this brings down the cost of running the network, which will ultimately reduce electricity costs for consumers. 

Cairns locals will also receive an additional $150 off their power bills this year from the Albanese Government, building on the $300 in rebates already received over the past 12 months. 

In contrast, Peter Dutton’s $600 billion taxpayer-funded nuclear scheme will make bills more expensive, risk blackouts and shrink our economy. 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen: 

“The Albanese Government is capitalising on the Sunshine State’s abundant natural resources – ensuring local communities reap the rewards of our reliable renewable energy.  

“The Cairns community battery is just the latest example of our government delivering real projects that are good for the planet and good for your pocket. 

“This is all at odds with Peter Dutton’s Opposition who doesn’t believe in battery technology and want to spend $600 billion dollars of your taxpayer money on a nuclear scheme that won’t be ready for 20 years.”  

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson:  

“It’s incredibly exciting to deliver the community battery in Cairns today.   

“This will stabilise the electricity grid, lower emissions, and enable Ergon to fund community grants for more local projects and upgrades that will bring power bills down for good. 

“The Albanese Government’s Reliable Renewables plan is bringing cleaner, cheaper reliable renewable energy to communities across the country right now.”  

Quotes attributable to Senator for Queensland Nita Green:  

“I’m thrilled this community battery is coming to Cairns North. 

“We are blessed with enormous natural resources in Far North Queensland, including our famous sunshine – and now the local community will benefit yet again from this fabulous free energy source.” 

Quotes attributable to Labor candidate for Leichardt Matt Smith:  

“The Far North has no shortage of sun, and our community stands to benefit a great deal from these batteries.  

“It just makes sense to use our free natural resources to sure up the local energy supply, which is exactly what Labor is doing.  

“What doesn’t make sense is Peter Dutton and the LNP making people in Cairns wait two decades for a $600 billion nuclear power plan that will end up pushing up power prices for our community.” 

THURSDAY, 3 APRIL 2025

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