Media release – Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 10 August 2023
Federal Government must step in on energy
The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the voice of business in Tasmania and is urging the Federal Government to make sure Marinus Link goes ahead.
TCCI CEO, Michael Bailey, said additional generation was crucial for Tasmania.
“Without new generation, Tasmania will not have enough energy to meet the needs of a growing population and a growing economy,” Mr Bailey said.
“The TCCI has warned that without new, renewable generation Tasmania could face an energy crisis. We already have a number of businesses saying that investment decisions in Tasmania are being put on hold until either Marinus or new generation gets the green light.
“The Federal Government needs to step in and do whatever it takes to make sure Tasmania can meet demand now and into the future.
“The Tasmanian Government also needs to take all reasonable steps to do what it can to deliver additional generation, which Marinus would deliver and has been a project that it has long touted as fundamental to the future of Tasmania.
“It’s time for the Federal Government to make sure that Tasmania can play its part to help the rest of the nation move to clean, renewable energy.”
Media release – Guy Barnett, Minister for Energy and Renewables, 10 August 2023
Real power relief delivered
While Labor misleads and scares Tasmanians by mailing out fake power bills, thanks to the Rockliff Liberal Government consumers will see real savings on the latest real energy accounts.
As part of Tasmania First Energy Guarantee, Tasmanian continues to have among the lowest power prices in the nation.
To provide further cost of living relief, the Rockliff Liberal Government has partnered with the Australian Government to provide targeted relief to those who need it most, with a $89 million Energy Bill Relief Rebate.
Energy Minister, Guy Barnett, today announced the Energy Bill Relief payments for concession customers with Aurora Energy have started to flow and have started to appear on their electricity bills.
“The Energy Bill Relief provides $250 for eligible residential customers in the 2023-24 year, and again in the 2024-2025 year,” Minister Barnett said.
“This payment means concession customer relief has increased from $575 to $880 this financial year, up $305 from 2022-23.
“To put that into context, $880 is 42 per cent of a typical residential customer’s annual bill.
“Eligible customers who pay their electricity bills through embedded networks, such as through a retirement village, caravan park or similar will also receive the Energy Bill Relief Payment, and pleasingly the application process for this is open.
“And on top of this, as part of our Tasmania First Energy Guarantee, our Government will deliver millions of dollars in energy bill relief to Tasmanians with our new Renewable Energy Dividend.
“This Renewable Energy Dividend means when Hydro makes money, Tasmanians save money,” Minister Barnett said.
Under a Liberal Government, Tasmania will continue to have among the lowest power prices in the nation.
Media release – Dean Winter MP, Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables, 11 August 2023
Liberals must fix energy debacle they created
Premier Jeremy Rockliff and his Energy Minister Guy Barnett owe Tasmanians an apology for the complete mess they have made of their own energy policy and the massive cost and uncertainty for households and businesses.
The Liberals have botched every aspect of their energy policy – and Tasmanians are paying the price.
There is no power available for any new business or for existing businesses to expand.
The government has had three different positions on Marinus Link in the past week, and is now pinning all its hopes on a bailout from the Federal Government.
And families are in a world of pain because power bills have gone up by almost $500 for the average household.
All of this is because the minority Liberal government broke its promise to Tasmanians and abandoned the policy it took to the last election to cap power prices.
No amount of spin from Minister Barnett will change the fact that the Liberals created all of this confusion and uncertainty by trying to wriggle out of what they promised Tasmanians.
They need to fix the mess they created by going back to the policy that remains on their own website and capping power prices.
Labor will cap power prices at 2.5 per cent a year for all households and small businesses in the first 100 days of government and we will also re-establish the electricity rebate scheme that was in place in 2018.
Tasmanians deserve to pay Tasmanian prices for Tasmanian power and a Labor government will ensure this happens both now and in the future.
