The Australian government has paid more than $3,000 to a sustainability influencer to promote the Snowy Hydro 2.0 project, which is facing significant cost overruns and delays. Voice actor Sarah Aubrey, known for her Electrify This social media pages, received $1,000 per day over a three-day trip from June 1 to 3 to create content for YouTube and Instagram endorsing the project. The arrangement also covered her return flights from Sydney to Wagga Wagga, accommodation, and meals.

During her visit, Aubrey described Snowy 2.0 as “incredible value for money” and “pretty amazing,” highlighting its projected 150-year design life and asserting that by 2050 it would meet half of Australia’s energy needs. However, independent data indicates the project is expected to supply about 10 percent of the National Electricity Market’s energy requirements, while accounting for more than half of Australia’s total energy storage capacity by 2050.

Aubrey defended her statements when questioned, emphasizing that she was referring to energy storage rather than direct energy supply. She also suggested that criticism of the project’s escalating costs—originally estimated at $2 billion but now $10 billion over budget—and two-year delay has been politicized. “I understand vested interests don’t want to see this project finished,” she said, adding that it is a project Australians should be proud of.

The Snowy Hydro 2.0 project has recently come under scrutiny following a report by the Australian National Audit Office, which identified “significant deficiencies” in cost management, quality controls, and scheduling. The audit's findings were made public on June 18, shortly after Aubrey’s promotional videos were released.

A Snowy Hydro spokeswoman stated that Aubrey’s views are her own and noted her posts had garnered more than 600,000 views. The spokeswoman emphasized the importance of public understanding about Snowy 2.0, describing Aubrey as a “trusted, independent voice” helping to clarify the project’s complexity and its role in Australia’s energy future.

The promotion has sparked criticism from political opponents. Dan Tehan, the Coalition’s energy spokesman, called the expenditure “insulting” to taxpayers and accused the federal government of spending public money on “social media spin.” Public sentiment toward the Snowy 2.0 project remains mixed, with many Australians viewing it as an expensive and delayed investment with questionable return, while advocates highlight its long-term storage capacity and contribution to renewable energy goals.