Treasurer Michael Ferguson’s claims in today’s Advocate that Tasmania has enough energy “for today’s needs” flies in the face of the reality being faced by Tasmanian business.
It was not Labor who called this an ‘energy crisis’, it was the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as industry screams that there is no power available for new developments.
Just this year we’ve heard from businesses like Norske Skog aren’t able to proceed with their decarbonisation and job-creating projects, we’ve seen major hydrogen proponents give up on Tasmania.
The Treasurer says the advice he’s received saying Tasmania has adequate power supply is “very clear”.
Who is providing this advice, and why is it so different to what the business community is experiencing?
The Liberal Government’s astonishing lack of understanding when it comes to energy policy is exactly what got our state into an energy crisis in the first place.
Now, after 10 years in office their only move is to put their heads in the sand and dismiss what the business community is saying.
Perhaps if Mr Ferguson wasn’t so busy trying to extinguish stories of the conservative/moderate power struggle between him and the Premier, he’d have a better understanding of Tasmanian power struggles happening outside his party room.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables
