Minister finally confirms Treasury raised energy security concerns over power station sale
Advice must now be released in full
Groom ignored advice and pushed ahead with sale
Government failed to run the power station during the drought
Energy Minister Matthew Groom has explosively admitted for the first time that Treasury warned the Government of energy security risks associated with selling the Tamar Valley Power Station.
Labor Leader Bryan Green said the Minister now has no choice but to release the advice in full.
“For the last year Matthew Groom has been desperate to avoid talking about the advice he received from Treasury over the sale of the power station,” Mr Green said.
“The Minister has previously only said the Government received advice from a range of sources.
“He has now finally admitted that Treasury voiced concerns over the energy security implications of selling the combined cycle unit.
“This is a major moment in the energy crisis saga and the Government must now release the Treasury advice in full.
“The Minister mothballed the power station, sacked workers and put it on the market. Those decisions significantly contributed to the energy crisis.
“By not running the power station during the drought, Matthew Groom put Tasmania and our economy is a very vulnerable situation.
“It’s clear to Labor that the Minister ignored Treasury’s advice and pushed ahead with the sale of the power station.
“We know previous Treasury advice warned that an energy crisis could be easily visualised.
“He failed to deny he received advice that said exactly the same thing.
“If Matthew Groom ignored that advice in August last year, his position as Tasmania’s Energy Minister is completely untenable.
“This is a reckless Minister who’s addicted to secrecy. It’s time he finally told the truth about the lead-up to the energy crisis.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader
