 Energy Security Taskforce highlights Matthew Groom’s critical mistakes
 Report confirms power station is a critical piece of energy security infrastructure
 Energy crisis cost Tasmania dearly

The interim report from the Energy Security Taskforce provides further confirmation of Matthew Groom’s complete recklessness in giving approval to sell the Tamar Valley Power Station.

Labor Leader Bryan Green said the report has confirmed what Labor has been saying all along – the TVPS is and always has been a critical piece of energy security infrastructure.

“The report highlights the role the power station played during the crisis and therefore the role it could have played in preventing it:

“The contribution of gas generation in this time was the most significant mitigating action to reducing the draw-down of water storages.”

“Matthew Groom’s decision to decommission the power station* in the middle of a drought was catastrophic.

“The Government has today given approval for Hydro Tasmania to decommission and sell the combined cycle gas turbine. This will allow Hydro to rid itself of a redundant liability and reduce its debt.” (Matthew Groom, 12/8/2015)

“It is clear that the decision was made against the advice of Treasury, which is why the Government has gone to extraordinary lengths to keep the advice hidden.

“The energy crisis had a massive direct cost and has had lasting impacts on confidence of our largest employers.”

Mr Green said the clock was ticking for the Government to make a decision on future gas contracts.

“The report notes that failing to renew long term contracts could have major consequences for major industrials:

“Some of these actions could result in economic impacts for the State, particularly if some businesses change or downsize their operations.”

“The report recommends that a clear intention be communicated to major customers by March 2017.

“Matthew Groom’s failure to make a decision on this issue has very real consequences for jobs and the future of our largest employers – we cannot afford for this issue to drag on.

“The Liberals must also come clean on the full costs to energy users of a second Bass Strait interconnector with confirmation from the Task Force that it could lead to higher power prices.

“In the first instance, Labor believes that we need to be building an additional 500 MW of renewable energy in Tasmania – a conclusion that is backed by this report.”

*http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/releases/tamar_valley_power_station
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader