The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Hodgman Liberals to rule out support for the sale of Hydro Tasmania, given that the party’s new Denison candidate has publicly backed the proposition.
Greens Energy spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that Robert Mallett, in his role as the Tasmanian Small Business Council Executive Officer, had effectively called for the sale of Hydro Tasmania in a submission to the Economic Regulator.
“Privatising public assets is in the Liberal Party’s DNA, and any guarantees they make about keeping the Hydro in public hands should be treated with utmost suspicion,” Mr Booth said.
“Just recently the Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey announced that the Coalition Government was planning to pay states to privatise their public assets.”
“And now it has come to light that the Liberal Party has pre-selected a candidate in Denison who has publicly expressed support for the sale of Hydro Tasmania.”
“It’s well understood that Will Hodgman is open to suggestions from his federal colleagues, but he needs to rule out succumbing to pressure and supporting the sale of Hydro Tasmania.”
“The Liberals have tried and failed to sell off the Hydro once before, and they cannot be trusted to keep it in public hands if they ever win government.”
“Given the Energy spokesman Matt Groom’s studious refusal to rule out any such move during GBE scrutiny hearings today, Will Hodgman needs to come clean.”
“Mr Hodgman must rule it out and pull his candidate into line.”
Kim Booth MP Greens Energy Spokesperson
