David Littleproud keeps saying the shift to renewable energy is going to cost $9 trillion. This is not accurate.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud is one of a few politicians claiming the energy shift will cost $9 trillion.

He got the number from a report by the University of Queensland, Melbourne Uni, and Princeton University.

The people behind the figure he is quoting have even gone so far as to release a statement pointing out that it is being misrepresented.

The report in question does have the $9 trillion figure, but it’s not the cost of Australia reaching net zero – and certainly not what taxpayers or households will be paying.

In reality, the nine trillion number is made up of every dollar of investment Australia might see into the energy shift industry between now and 2060.

Littleproud’s number includes all the billions of dollars being spent by private companies, as well as money that overseas customers would pay for future export.

It also includes things like electric cars or solar panels Aussie households might choose to buy.

It includes every energy-related investment households, governments, and businesses might choose to make over the next 35 years.

Despite most likely knowing this, there are politicians who have been misleading the public by using this number to say how much it would cost.

And, again, the report’s authors are saying this is misleading.

David Littleproud has said Labor plans “to spend $9 trillion on its net zero plan, putting Medicare and the NDIS at risk” multiple times.

He also wrote an op-ed in the Daily Telegraph with a subheading stating: “Labor’s $9 trillion net zero plan will cost every Australian $250,000.”

Elsewhere, Pauline Hanson said on Radio National net zero “is gonna cost us $8 trillion.”

Sally Sara, who was hosting the show, notified Hanson that the report’s authors said the number is being misrepresented.

After being read the statement, the One Nation leader said: “I totally disagree with you.”

Thumbnail: AAP