WA opposition calls $30 million renewable-energy ad campaign a waste of funds
Western Australia's opposition says the $30 million "State of Energy" advertising push is a poor use of money that should instead fund essential grid upgrades.
Premier Roger Cook announced a $30 million "State of Energy" campaign aimed at showcasing Western Australia’s move toward renewable power and drawing global investment. The program spans TV, radio, print, online, cinema and billboards, with $12 million earmarked for an international rollout and a website detailing the phase-out of state-owned coal plants by 2029. Opposition shadow energy minister Steve Thomas criticised the spend, saying the state still lacks sufficient generation and transmission capacity and that the funds could instead finance a new substation or line upgrades to avoid expected outages.
A government spokesperson rejected the critique, asserting the campaign raises awareness, supports local manufacturing jobs and promotes the state’s energy transition. Strategic communications expert Katharina Wolf questioned whether advertising is the most effective way to secure deals and called for clear metrics to evaluate the campaign’s value. Lotterywest’s recent $19 million advertising spend provides a benchmark for the scale of the effort.
Why it matters
It highlights a debate over whether public money should fund promotion or the physical infrastructure needed for a reliable energy transition.
In this story
