Federal Election 2025: Independent candidate Matthew Camenzuli slams Energy Minister for not doing ‘enough' to tackle power bill hikes

Sky News AU

25-04-2025

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has come under fire from his political rival for not doing enough to tackle Australia's cost of living crisis through power bill relief.
Independent candidate Matthew Camenzuli, who is challenging Mr Bowen in the New South Wales seat of McMahon, said constituents in the electorate identified energy price hikes as the reason for their financial turmoil and voters had placed the blame on the Energy Minister.
'We're seeing one of the worst cost increases in just the basics that I think anyone can really remember. So, you people are hurting, people are suffering, and they feel as though energy's a big part of it," Mr Camenzuli told Sky News host Steve Price.
'They feel as though all of that falls at the feet of Mr Bowen and he can't really get away from that.'
The independent candidate took aim at an extension of energy bill rebates pledged by the Albanese government last month, with Labor announcing another $150 in power bill relief until the end of 2025.
The energy rebate will be applied automatically in quarterly instalments on top of the existing rebates.
The assistance from the government comes as both Labor and the Coalition intensify efforts to tackle the cost of living crisis - the number one issue for voters ahead of the May 3 Federal Election.
Mr Camenzuli, though, said the subsidy was 'not enough' to give people meaningful relief.
'I've seen power bills whilst I've been out and about from cafes and small businesses that are in the thousands of dollars," he said.
'That's a lot of coffees, a lot of work to make up that extra cost, and it's putting people's jobs at risk, and people know that.'
The cost for an average household is estimated to be about $428 in the first quarter of this year, according to News Corp.
However, from January, after Labor's energy scheme ends, the bill is set to jump to $503.
'People are not happy and they're suffering and everybody can see it, I feel as though there's a real mood for change,' Mr Camenzuli said.
McMahon, in Sydney's outer western suburbs, was previously known as Prospect and has been Labor held for more than five decades.
Mr Bowen secured the seat in 2004.
Mr Camenzuli said a "common concern' in the area was that 'people don't feel heard and they don't feel represented" by the current political heavyweights.
'I'm a bit over it, the entire political system at the moment seems to be built on career politicians who really aren't that interested in representing, and far more interested in where they're headed next and what they're going to be doing with their future careers,' he said.
'I think Australia has had enough of it.'