Bryan Green needs to stand up for Tasmanian jobs and back our calls to exempt Tasmania’s major industrials from the Renewable Energy Target Scheme.

Earlier this week, Mr. Green confirmed he was still in lock-step with the Greens when he told ABC Radio;

“The fact is that somebody’s gotta pay. If you’re to have a renewable energy target system in place, well then you’ve got to have a system in place where renewable energy is in fact subsidised. Our wind farms in Tasmania are subsidised by everyone,including major industrials.”

What Bryan Green failed to mention is these high electricity use sectors are facing significant risk from external market factors including the high Australian dollar, low commodity prices and the high cost of freight.

That’s why the Liberal Government has asked the RET Review panel for a full exemption for Tasmania’s highly affected manufacturing sectors.

By providing an exemption we will see Tasmanian jobs secured. Bryan Green needs to stand up for Tasmanian jobs rather than continue his kow-towing to the Greens.

The Liberal Government is committed to effectively utilising our energy assets as an economic driver to attract investment, retain industry and secure jobs.
Matthew Groom, Minister for Energy