Declare that grocery prices have soared because of net-zero policies, energy costs, foreign land ownership and red tape on farmers — back it or block it?

One Nation's Pauline Hanson moved that the Senate note grocery prices have skyrocketed because of net-zero policies, high energy costs, foreign ownership of farmland, and regulatory burdens on farmers. She and colleagues argued electricity prices — driven by renewables and international climate agreements — flow through to the cost of food, and that Australia should use its coal, gas and uranium for cheap, reliable power.

The Coalition backed the theme, saying the government has no plan for the cost of living and that energy costs are embedded in every grocery item. Labor rejected the blame, arguing One Nation and the Coalition repeatedly vote against wage rises, tax cuts and energy bill relief. The debate ran about 68 minutes with no vote taken.

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📄 Senate Hansard, 2 Jul 2026 — Grocery Prices

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The strongest case each way

For · One Nation (Pauline Hanson)Hanson argued the government's net-zero push has driven electricity prices up dramatically, and because energy underpins all food production, transport and refrigeration, grocery bills keep climbing. She said Australia is energy-rich yet imposes costs that push families into poverty, citing charity reports of people skipping meals and living in cars.

For · CoalitionCanavan and Cash said the cost of living is the top issue for Australians and the government has no plan for it, pointing to broken promises to cut power bills. They argued higher energy costs are silently baked into every product at the checkout, and that Australians now pay far more for food, electricity, insurance and rent than four years ago.

Against · Labor (Tony Sheldon)Sheldon argued One Nation and the Coalition talk about helping families but repeatedly vote against the very measures that would — minimum wage rises, tax cuts, penalty rate protections, price-gouging rules and energy bill relief. He said their attack on "red, green and blue tape" is really about stripping workers' rights while protecting big business at the top of the supply chain.