Energy Minister Guy Barnett’s “Winter” Energy Assistance Package, which has so far provided zero support to the vast majority of Tasmanians, just gets worse.
In his desperation to find a delivery partner, Minister Barnett has announced Brighte Capital, a firm whose mainland record has serious question marks, will help roll out his Energy Saver Loan Scheme later this year.
Brighte’s role in the sector came into question late last year when the how vulnerable Australians, including pensioners in regional towns, were being sold overpriced solar systems, costing nearly double their worth. Brighte was financing and profiting off those deals.
One report showed a mainland pensioner paying $103 per fortnight, for a total of $10,500, for a modest solar power system, in a scheme financed by Brighte. It later turned out this was more than twice what the system would have otherwise cost.
Minister Barnett must assure Tasmanians that his new delivery partner is not taking part in schemes like that in Tasmania, and that his scheme today cannot be exploited by contractors or Brighte at the expense of Tasmanians doing it tough.
There is a cost of living crisis in Tasmania. Power prices have gone up by 12 per cent and this government can’t even deliver the bare minimum that they promised.
While the Government is focussed on building a $750 million second stadium in Hobart, Labor is focussed on the health, housing and cost-of-living crises.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy
