LIVE: Leith Van Olsen - Why South Australians Pay the World’s Highest Power Bills

On The Court of Public Opinion, Jeremy Cordeaux is joined by Chief Economist Leith Van Onselen to unpack Australia’s energy and housing crises. From skyrocketing power bills in South Australia to the government’s 5% housing deposit scheme, they expose the hidden costs of net zero, failed energy policy, and a looming affordability disaster.

Topics Discussed;

• South Australia’s renewable energy dependence and high penetration of wind/solar

• Reality check: reliance on gas, diesel, and batteries when renewables fail

• Why SA has the highest power bills in Australia (49% higher than average)

• Transmission and infrastructure costs being passed to consumers

• Comparison with California – “the South Australia of the USA”

• Energy market manipulation and “bid stacking” pushing up prices

• The role of coal in keeping prices stable and efficient use of batteries

• Net zero targets vs Australia’s 1% share of global emissions

• Risks of deindustrialisation and manufacturing collapse due to high energy costs

• Environmental impacts of mass renewables vs nuclear power option

• Unrealistic government targets (wind towers, solar panels, transmission roads)

• Subsidies, Snowy Hydro blowouts, and taxpayer burden

• Policy failures: privatisation of utilities, gas exports without domestic reservation

• Future blackout risks when Victoria also eliminates coal power

• Housing affordability: government’s 5% deposit guarantee scheme

• Scheme compared to “state-sponsored subprime mortgage scandal”

• Long-term effects: inflated prices, taxpayer risk, negative equity for buyers

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