Judgement Day for Treasurer Gutwein

 Gutwein either hands over Tamar Valley correspondence or faces consequences
 PAC hearing tomorrow is a pivotal test of Treasurer’s integrity
 Extraordinary secrecy shows government has something to hide
Treasurer Peter Gutwein has a serious decision to make when he appears before the Public Accounts Committee in Hobart tomorrow.
Shadow Minister for Open Government Madeleine Ogilvie said the Treasurer either hands over an un-redacted version of a letter containing critical information about the government’s proposed sale of the Tamar Valley Power Station or face the consequences.
Ms Ogilvie said the letter between Mr Gutwein and Energy Minister Matthew Groom was a crucial piece of the puzzle about the government’s strategy in the lead-up to Tasmania’s energy crisis, which cost taxpayers $160 million.
“Thursday is Judgement Day for Treasurer Gutwein – for more than year now Labor has been seeking this information at the same time the Treasurer has gone to extraordinary lengths to keep it hidden,” Ms Ogilvie said.
“The government – including the Premier – have tried to trick Tasmanians by saying the release of this document is prevented by privilege when in fact it is not Cabinet in Confidence.
“It’s vital that it be made public so the Committee and all Tasmanians can understand how we came to the most serious energy crisis in a generation.
“Either Mr Gutwein hands over the full, un-redacted letter to the Public Accounts Committee or leaves himself open to serious consequences.
“Under the Act, there’s the possibility of the Treasurer being arrested if he doesn’t comply with the Committee’s order.
“This is an enormous test of the Treasurer’s integrity – if he fails to provide the full document to the Committee, it’s confirmation he has something important to hide.
“The letter in question goes to the heart of an energy crisis which cost taxpayers around $160 million and is still having an impact on major employers. “
Madeleine Ogilvie MP Shadow Open Government and Information Integrity Minister