CENTRAL WEST DESERVES ANSWERS ON REZ COST BLOWOUT

The Nationals Candidate for Calare Sam Farraway has slammed Energy Minister Chris

Bowen and the NSW Labor Government for failing to disclose the final cost of the Central-

West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), saying it reeks of a cost blowout cover-up.

Mr Farraway said that last Friday, the NSW Government announced financial close on the

project—but failed to disclose the contract value or cost to taxpayers in the release and

the Australian Energy Regulator also redacted the capital cost from its latest revenue

determination.

“Why the secrecy? Why would you announce a contract and not tell people what it’s going

to cost? I suspect the cost has exceeded last year’s blow out and the NSW Government

is covering up for Chris Bowen – Lord of Renewables,” Mr Farraway said.

“We know from EnergyCo’s own documents that the cost has blown out from $600 million

in 2020 to $5.45 billion in 2024. That’s almost a tenfold increase. Has it gone up more?

Not a single figure has been shared with the public.

“The fact the regulator redacted the cost speaks volumes. When regulators start making

political decisions instead of practical ones, they stop protecting the public and start

protecting the politicians.

“The Central West is the frontline of Labor’s renewables experiment and, once again, we

have been given no transparency on the cost.”

Mr Farraway said this lack of transparency is deeply concerning for households already

struggling under a cost-of-living crisis.

“Labor used to call renewables ‘cheap’. Then it was ‘affordable’. Now they’re calling it

‘more affordable’. The truth is—they don’t want you to know how much this is really

costing,” Mr Farraway said.

“And while they talk about lowering wholesale energy prices, let’s be clear—everyday

families don’t pay wholesale prices. They pay bills. And those bills are going up.”

“It’s time for Albo, Bowen and the NSW Government to come clean. The people of this

region deserve answers—not spin.”