Tasmania has a huge opportunity to secure an offshore wind industry that will provide a future for Tasmanian workers through well-paid, safe, secure jobs.
It was reported yesterday that a critical offshore wind hub in Victoria has been delayed by two years – further highlighting the incredible opportunity for Tasmania. But we need to act now.
Development capital is being allocated as we speak, and Tasmania is already falling behind. Bell Bay does not currently have the port infrastructure to support offshore wind.
Labor has announced a policy to immediately complete plans and a business case for upgrading the Port of Bell Bay so that a funding proposal can be put to the Federal Government before the election.
We need to have the infrastructure in place in the next five years, to be ready for the first components that be arriving in early 2029 to align with Victoria’s 2032 2GW target. And we need certainty about the project well before that. This is a chance for the Liberals to demonstrate that they’ve learnt from their track record when it comes to major projects.
It’s pointless for the Government to talk about grant programs and benefiting from the emergence of offshore wind if there’s no port. Just like their hydrogen grants were pointless without enough power or water in the state. Just like the new Spirits will be unusable until the berth is ready.
I urge Minister Vincent and Minister Duigan to get started. Labor is determined to get moving on the big projects that will set our economy up for decades to come, and create thousands of safe, secure, well-paid jobs.
Janie Finlay MP
Shadow Minister for Energy & Renewables
