Media release – Rebecca White MP, Tasmanian Labor Leader; Dean Winter MP, Shadow Minister for Energy, 28 February 2024
A Tasmania First Labor Government will secure the future of our Major Industrials
A Rebecca White Labor Government will legislate to guarantee major industrials’ energy supply arrangements and, in turn, guarantee the future of manufacturing in the state.
This includes an electricity reserve for major industrials, with the ability to grow the reserve for new entrants or to grow existing businesses, and directing supply agreements with major industrials until at least 2040.
Hydro has made its intention to become entirely a ‘firmer’ public, with no protest from the Liberal Government. There is a risk it seeks to exit direct contracting completely and this has created significant, unnecessary risk for industrials who have come under increasing pressure from wholesale and transmission price rises.
Tasmanians built the Hydro and we should be reaping the benefits but after 10 years of a Liberal government, Tasmanians are paying mainland prices for their power and there is not enough energy for major industrials.
But it’s not just about supporting our existing industrials, it’s also about trying to bring more manufacturing to the state.
While the Liberals want to use Marinus to focus on exporting Tasmanian power to the mainland, Labor wants to invest in on-island generation and use that to grow our economy through expansions and new industrials.
Labor are firm supporters of projects like Robbins Island, Whaleback Ridge, Abel Energy and HIF. A Labor Government will give them every chance to succeed.
It’s time for a better future and a Tasmanian Labor Government will act immediately to once again give Tasmanians a Hydro that works for them, gives them a Tasmanian price for Tasmanian power and get back to contributing to our economic development.
Labor’s Tasmania First Energy Plan will:
- Put Tasmanians first
- Give certainty to major industrials and Tasmanian jobs
- Legislate an energy reserve for major industrials, which can grow for new entrants or expansion of existing businesses
- Direct supply agreements with major industrials until at least 2040
- Encourage major new industries to relocate to Tasmania
Media release – Nick Duigan, Minister for Energy and Renewables, Minister for Parks and Heritage, Minister for Small Business, Liberal Member for Windermere, 28 February 1965
Labor All Over The Shop On Energy
Labor is claiming they will guarantee power to Tasmania’s major industrial customers whilst at the same time pulling the plug on Marinus and gutting Hydro.
It doesn’t add up.
Labor says it will set up yet another government-owned power company to ensure future energy supply.
That’s what Hydro is for.
Labor says it will pay for its wild power promises by using ‘the money that the government currently has earmarked for Marinus’.
Trouble is, Tasmania is only contributing $117m to the project.
The rest of the money must be coming from Mr Winter’s magic money tree.
Labor will pull the plug on Marinus and gut Hydro.
Only a re-elected majority Rockliff Liberal Government will save Hydro and build our renewable energy future.
Media release – Rebecca White MP, Tasmanian Labor Leader; Dean Winter MP, Shadow Minister for Energy, 27 February 2024
Tasmanian Power Co to harness world-class resource and double Tasmania’s energy supply
A Rebecca White Labor Government will directly invest funds saved from getting out of Marinus into the state’s energy generation assets to double Tasmania’s power supply.
We’ll do this through the creation of the Tasmanian Power Co, a new Government Business Enterprise tasked with facilitating and managing the creation of a new wave of energy assets.
Tasmania has one of the best wind resources in the world, and we should be putting it to work for the state, like we have done with Hydro over 100 years.
After 10 years of a Liberal government, it’s been 1200 days since any new electricity generation came on line in Tasmania and Hydro Tasmania has turned away at least 10 major businesses investing here because there is no power available.
The creation of Tasmanian Power Co will involve:
- The transfer of Hydro Tasmania’s existing wind assets and Entura under the ownership of Tasmanian Power Co, creating equity and new expertise to drive new investment in wind
- Seeking new partnerships with new wind projects to drive investor confidence and a return for Tasmanian taxpayers.
- Guaranteeing new transmission for every windfarm developer and use the savings from the Basslink Facility fee windfall to protect consumers and industrial users.
This will help generate enough energy to power Tasmanian businesses, industry and households – all at a Tasmanian price.
With businesses facing ongoing uncertainty and a desperate need for more renewable energy development, a Labor government will facilitate new builds while generating a return on investment in our wind resources to Tasmanians.
The Liberals have had 10 years to progress these projects, yet all the have delivered are delays, stalled projects and business uncertainty.
It’s time for a better future and a Tasmanian Labor Government will act immediately to get these important projects up and running to benefit all Tasmanians and address the energy crisis that is holding back our businesses and economy.
Turbo charging Hydro for Tasmanians
The Liberals have had 10 years to make Hydro work for Tasmanians but instead they jacked up prices and plunged the state into an energy crisis.
Labor will get the state moving again by turbo charging Hydro to focus on what is best for Tasmanians and by investing in new renewable energy development through Tasmania Power Co.
We want to grow our economy on the back of renewable energy and make sure Tasmanians pay a Tasmanian price for our power. That’s Labor’s vision for our state.
Hydro will never be sold by Labor. Unlike the Liberals who tried to do just that. Investing in public infrastructure and public services is in Labor’s DNA.
Media release – Michael Ferguson, Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Planning, Member for Bass, 27 February 2024
Labor Will Kill Marinus And Gut Hydro
Labor has confirmed it will kill Marinus Link to invent a new bureacracy company to replace Hydro’s trusted position.
The hare-brained scheme has been dreamed up by the mainland Labor hacks who still run state Labor as a carbon copy of Daniel Andrews election gimmick.
It’s incredible state Labor fell for it so easily.
Rebecca White says “Labor will use the money that the government currently has earmarked for Marinus … to create a new entity called the Tasmanian Power Company.
Let’s be clear, Labor can’t do that. They are spending imaginary money on their wasteful new company. Their cheques will bounce.
The last thing Tasmanians need is a new power company run by Labor and the Greens.
We already have a perfectly good power company: its called Hydro.
It’s solid and it’s delivered. It’s worked for a hundred years. Labor now plans to gut it and set up a costly new government business we don’t need and can’t afford.
Labor will pull the plug on Marinus and strip Hydro of $500 million in assets and hundreds of jobs to set up their unnecessary new billion-dollar folly.
Only a re-elected majority Liberal Government will save Hydro.
