Labor: Blackouts are Possible

Media release – Dean Winter MP, Shadow Energy Minister, 14 June 2022

Lights potentially out for Tasmania as Barnett fails on energy policy

Less than two weeks after embattled Energy Minister Guy Barnett confirmed he had dumped the Liberal Government’s signature energy policy to de-link from the National Electricity Market (NEM), Tasmanians are being warned the lights could go off.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has issued warnings of maximum power load interruptions across five states including Tasmania with potential disruptions from tomorrow evening.

Tasmania would not be in this position had Mr Barnett and the Rockliff-Ferguson Government proceeded with their power promises instead of recently confirming they had dumped their key policy.

The Rockliff-Ferguson Government’s position of having no energy policy has left Tasmanian families and business not only at the mercy of the national market but exposed to electricity bill price shocks now also hitting other states.

The Liberal’s policy to delink from the NEM was designed to reduce power prices and had the strong support of Tasmanian industry.

The entire point of the policy was to protect Tasmania from the kind of price shocks and power disruptions that are now hitting the NEM.

It has been abandoned while the market faces a crisis.

That leaves Mr Barnett to explain to Tasmanian families and business why he has put Project Marinus ahead of the electricity security and affordability for Tasmanian families and businesses.

David O’Byrne MP, Member for Franklin, 14 June 2022

Energy job cuts will impact Tasmania’s energy security

Thousands of households are still without power while the Energy Minister forges ahead with his plan to axe up to a quarter of critical energy workforce.

“Just like our emergency services workers, TasNetworks employees have been working around the clock through the weekend’s wild weather as thousands of households are still without power,” said Franklin MP David O’Byrne.

“Meanwhile, Energy Minister Guy Barnett has still refused to answer how many jobs will be axed at TasNetworks and what impact this will have on Tasmania’s electricity security.

“Tasmanians are rightfully concerned that future power outages could last longer or become more frequent if up to a quarter of the TasNetworks workforce is cut.

“It’s been 97 days since I first asked Minister Barnett about this secret plan, but he is still refusing to say how many jobs will go. He needs to stop ducking and weaving this simple question and immediately provide an answer.

“Major projects such as Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation are already running behind schedule. After these jobs cuts, who is going to be left to build the energy transmission infrastructure that these projects require?

“Guy Barnett’s promised ‘jobs bonanza’ in the energy sector is sadly just another soundbite without substance. Instead of an energy jobs bonanza, the Minister is delivering the exact opposite.”

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Media release – Guy Barnett, Minister for Energy, 14 June 2022

Tasmanian power availability stable

The Tasmanian Government is actively monitoring the changing circumstances in the National Electricity Market which has seen market notices published on the AEMO website this afternoon.

I can confirm the notice that relates to Tasmania has since been cancelled.

Accordingly, there have been no underlying supply issues evident in Tasmania and there is more than sufficient generation available in Tasmania to meet Tasmanian demand.

The Tasmanian Government is continuing to work with the Australian Energy Market Operator and other jurisdictions on a daily basis.

While the market pricing across the NEM is highly volatile, there have been no underlying supply issues evident in Tasmania.

Labor clue-less on energy

Last Wednesday Energy Ministers from across the country came together to meet with the new Federal Energy Minister to work through the unprecedented challenges facing the national electricity market.

We collectively agreed on the critical importance of a sensible, considered reform agenda for the medium to longer term, to position our energy sector to be more resilient and more secure to underpin a modern low carbon economy, including green hydrogen.

Projects such as Marinus Link, Battery of the Nation and Green Hydrogen are front and centre to this agenda and will form a key part of a supercharged Integrated System Plan (ISP) as Australia moves to net zero carbon emissions.

I can confirm discussions between our Government and Minister Chris Bowen on these projects have been positive, with Mr Bowen describing Marinus Link as a ‘key’ national transmission project and one that would fit with the goals of the Federal Government’s Rewiring the Nation Program in the Weekend Australian.

This support is in stark contrast to what we see here in Tasmania from the Labor Party. The Anti-Everything Mr Winter is continuing his anti-everything agenda and has spoken out against Marinus Link, without any alternative plan or policy.

Mr Winter would have us exit the National Electricity Market¸ destroying new investments in renewable energy and leaving Tasmania in the dark ages with no plan and no future.

To be clear, without links to the NEM, Tasmania’s renewable energy credentials would be at risk and we would be highly exposed and more vulnerable to extreme weather events.

It would present energy security risks, which could impact Tasmanian households and ultimately access to affordable and reliable energy.

Marinus Link, Battery of Nation and green hydrogen will bring untold benefits to our state, not to mention the development, investment and jobs being drawn to our State as a result of our energy policy.  Marinus Link will deliver future downward pressure on electricity prices.

Labor wants to put this all at risk, even though it was the Labor party that originally supported Tasmania’s entry to the NEM through Basslink.

A check of Mr Winter’s Facebook shows that in February this year he visited UPC’s Robbins Island project in the north-west and said the project would “create hundreds of construction jobs in the region and produce clean energy for Tasmania and the rest of the country.’’ Now he wants to turn his back on these opportunities and the jobs and investment they would create.

Tasmania’s Independent Energy Regulator is due to consider and announce his final determination shortly and the Tasmanian Government is preparing to respond with a multi-pronged package which cushions the impacts on our most vulnerable.

This package of measures will build on those already in the 2022-23 State Budget to support Tasmanians including:

• $186 million for eligible concession card holders to help manage their electricity bills and,
• the $30 million Tasmanian Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme to support residential and small businesses, including landlords, to install energy efficient appliances and solar systems and keep downward pressure on power bills.

The Tasmanian Government is focused on seeing Tasmania leverage our competitive advantages, grow our economy and keep downward pressure on energy prices – Labor and Dean Winter are simply focused on scare campaigns and miss-truths to hide their incompetence.