Australia's Cheaper Home Batteries Program budget rising to over $7.2 billion amid fraud allegations
Investigators received 95 tip-offs regarding fraudulent solar battery installations, while the program's total cost is estimated to have exceeded initial projections.
The federal watchdog overseeing Australia's Cheaper Home Batteries Program has received 95 specific tip-offs alleging that unlicensed operators are gaming the subsidy scheme. These claims suggest fraudsters mock up installations, forge customer signatures, and use cash jobs with unlicensed tradespeople to deliver unsafe systems. In response to these allegations from March through June 2026, the program's cost has been estimated at more than $7.2 billion over four years. This figure represents approximately $5 billion more than originally announced. The scheme provides up to 30 per cent of the cost for solar battery systems and has seen more than 530,000 batteries installed since July 2025. Solar and consumer advocates have characterized these accusations as shocking and are calling for a Senate inquiry and urgent increases in inspections.
