Economy
Abbott’s climate denial puts Hydro Tasmania on life support
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Greens senator for Tasmania offers the following comments on the impact of the Government’s climate policies on Tasmania:
“The reckless climate policies of the Abbott Government such as repealing the price on carbon will have dire consequences for Tasmania as was clear in yesterday’s state budget.
“Hydro Tasmania is the leading producer of clean energy in Australia, generating approximately half of all the country’s renewable energy, and Abbott’s climate sceptic policies have just smashed it.
“Hydro has been providing a river of gold to state government coffers. Abbott has made these rivers of gold run dry.
“Yesterday’s state budget revealed that Hydro Tasmania would pay $135 million less than was forecast due to the loss of a price on carbon. Tony Abbott has stolen $135 million from Tasmanians.
“To put this in perspective, that government revenue could have effectively funded the prevention of public service job cuts and education sector wage freezes.
“Now, today Abbott’s hand-picked climate sceptic run Inquiry into the Renewable Energy Target (RET) recommends scrapping the existing RET.
“This broken election promise would further decimate dividends to Peter Gutwein and will put at risk the future of any Hydro clean energy advantage.
“Projects like the $2bn King Island Wind Farm will be scrapped and other exciting growth opportunities will be stopped in their tracks.
“Recently Hydro Tasmania cut 100 jobs partly due to the loss of the carbon price. How many more will occur if we lose the RET?
“The Greens delivered the job creating carbon price dividend to Tasmania and we continue to stand up for clean energy jobs and opportunities.
“Tony Abbott and the federal Liberal government must compensate Tasmanians for their reckless, short sighted and self- interested gutting of Tasmania’s clean energy advantage,” he concluded.
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