An investment decision on the controversial Marinus Link energy infrastructure project appears imminent.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff today sought the support of Opposition Leader Dean Winter to approve the decision. Under ‘caretaker conventions’, Westminister-style governments do not generally make major decisions while parliament is prorogued.
For his part Winter viewed the government’s approach as an “appalling breach of caretaker conventions” and said he “will not be complicit in this sham process”. He confirmed that he will not provide his approval by the government’s deadline.
Yesterday, Labor and other parliamentarians were given a ‘briefing’ under severe restrictions including limited time, no photography or copying, and being forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement issued by the Solicitor-General.
Peter George (independent MHA-elect, Franklin) blasted the dump of thousands of pages of document in just four hours, stating: “This isn’t consultation, it’s a total disrespect for due process and a deliberate breach of caretaker conventions.”
Other Members of Parliament such as Craig Garland (independent MHA, Braddon), Kristie Johnston (independent MHA, Clark) and Meg Webb (independent MLC, Nelson) agreed that the consultation provided was tokenistic and inadequate.
Environment Tasmania CEO James Overington argued that decisions around Marinus Link “have become increasingly opaque, despite serious concerns about rising costs, social licence and environmental impacts. The government’s lack of transparency continues to erode community trust.”
Their statements are reproduced below.
Media release – Nick Duigan, Minister for Energy and Renewables, 30 July 2025
Dean Winter must stop playing games on Marinus
Labor, along with the Greens and independents, have been briefed on Project Marinus by departmental officials.
The Tasmanian Government has successfully negotiated updated terms on Marinus with the Commonwealth Government and a Final Investment Decision (FID) is now needed in coming days to give the project certainty.
Based on the updated deal, it is the Tasmanian Government’s intention to make a positive FID. All documentation to inform the Government’s decision has been shared with Members of Parliament.
In line with Caretaker Conventions, the Government has today requested Mr Winter provide his support for this agreement so a positive FID can proceed. Any further information Mr Winter requires to help inform his decision has been offered.
The Whole of State Business Case for the project had not been released publicly while negotiations with the Commonwealth were underway.
The Whole of State Business Case has been provided to the Opposition, the Greens and the independents, and will be released publicly as soon as commercial-in-confidence issues are finalised.
Our commitment to Tasmanians is Marinus will protect power prices without any additional cost to our State, and that’s what we are delivering. The new deal that has been struck with the Commonwealth means Marinus can proceed on Tasmania’s terms.
It will ensure Tasmania continues to pay the lowest possible power prices and drive billions of dollars of economic development. This project is critical to secure Tasmania’s energy security, while also supporting our economy and ensuring Tasmanians pay less for power than without it.
Responsible governments make investments to protect Tasmanians into the future, this is what Project Marinus does.
Mr Winter must now stop playing political games, put Tasmania’s interests first and agree to support this landmark project.
Media release – Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader, 30 July 2025
Rockliff’s sham consultation on Marinus is a disgrace
Jeremy Rockliff has shown once again that his government cannot be trusted to operate with integrity, even on the most important projects facing our state.
Let me be clear: Tasmanian Labor supports Project Marinus, but we will not be bullied into rubber-stamping a 1,000 page deal with less than 24 hours’ notice – especially when the Premier has had the final business case on his desk for two months.
What we’ve seen over the past few days is nothing short of an appalling breach of caretaker conventions.
Despite Minister Nick Duigan attempting to brief Labor weeks ago – as required under caretaker rules – Jeremy Rockliff blocked it.
Now, with the deadline looming, Jeremy Rockliff has written to me asking for my formal endorsement of a multi-billion-dollar decision after one rushed briefing, two hours to digest over 1,000 pages of complex information, no discussion and certainly no real consultation.
Over the weekend, Jeremy Rockliff’s told the Examiner that the decision needed to be reached by 31 August – not in the next few days. Now, he says it needs to be made by 2 August, and I’ve only got until the morning to decide.
Jeremy Rockliff told ABC Radio less than a week ago that Tasmanians would get to see the Business Case and digest it before a final decision is made.* Now he says that it won’t be released until the final decision is made.
I support Marinus, but I will not be complicit in this sham process. The people of Tasmania deserve a government that respects process and treats both the Parliament and the public with honesty and respect.
Jeremy Rockliff continues to prove you can’t trust a word he says.
*ABC Mornings, 24 July 2025
Leon Compton: Will Tasmanians get to see the business case?
Jeremy Rockliff: Yes, they will.
Leon Compton: And will Tasmanians have a period to digest it? I’m referring to Ruth Forrest, who says, you’ve got it. I think you put out a release about it on the 19th of May. You’ve got it. You’re looking at it. Can Tasmanians see it before a final decision gets made?
Jeremy Rockliff: That would be my expectation, absolutely Leon. It is a very big decision to make, and I accept that.
Media release – Peter George, independent MHA-elect, 29 July 2025
Cross bench MPs blindsided over Marinus Link papers
Jeremy Rockliff’s caretaker government blindsided cross bench MPs today with a deliberately delayed briefing on the multi-billion dollar Marinus Link and north west transmission project.
Under government orders, departmental officials delivered several thousand pages of documentation to be absorbed by cross bench MPs in a four-hour briefing.
The MPs were obliged to agree not to publicly divulge any of the information in the documents and were not allowed to remove or photograph the material. Independent MP-elect, Peter George was obliged to sign a confidentiality agreement.
The project would be by far the state’s biggest infrastructure project, incorporating an undersea energy cable link with the mainland and new transmission towers across the state with the entire project estimated to cost more than $6 billion.
Independent MP-elect, Peter George says:
“The Liberal government has been sitting on the ‘Whole of State Business Case’ document since April when it could have – and should have – shared it with MPs during the last parliament, allowing full public consultation on this enormously expensive and divisive project.
“Instead, it today ordered an in-camera four-hour briefing with more than a thousand pages to be absorbed just three days before the first commitments to the project are due to be signed – the order of a multi-million dollar cable to be laid under Bass Strait.
“This isn’t consultation, it’s a total disrespect for due process and a deliberate breach of Caretaker conventions.
“Just as I have been warned by other independent MPs, this is typical of the lack of respect and consultation shown by the Rockliff government over the past two administrations.
“It’s a way of ramming through a process that has highly questionable outcomes yet commits Tasmania to huge costs without clear benefits to the state.
“It’s no way to approach minority government that Tasmanians expect to provide a constructive and stable parliament for the next four years.”
Media release – Kristie Johnston, independent MHA for Clark, 29 July 2025
Libs railroad us into Marinus deal
I was among crossbench MPs briefed today on the Government’s secretive “Whole Of State Business Case” for Marinus Link, two days before the massive project’s “Final Investment Decision” is due.
Let me be clear. This is a high-risk investment for Tasmania.
Given the high-risk you would think any Government, whether in caretaker mode or not, would want to ensure a proper process of consultation and collaboration across the parliament before any decision was made.
This has not occurred.
Access to documents and reports prior to the briefing were denied. Then minutes before the briefing my office was provided with a document dump, thousands of pages of documents impossible to consume. Those documents couldn’t be copied or taken away. The briefing was subject to strict confidentiality under threat of legal action.
It is clear to me why Marinus Link was hidden away during the election campaign by the caretaker Liberal Government. It would have sunk them.
I call on Labor to stand up for Tasmanians and demand no final investment decision is made until information has been released publicly, and there has been adequate time for consultation with the community and stakeholders.
For either the Liberal Party or Labor Party to sign on to Marinus without this is reckless and irresponsible.
I fear, however, that a decision has already been made by the caretaker Liberal Government and today’s briefing was a mere charade.
Media release – Craig Garland MP – Independent for Braddon, 30 July 2025
Garland Demands Answers Over Secretive Marinus Decision-Making
Independent MP Craig Garland has criticised the Rockliff Government for breaching its repeated commitments to transparency over the controversial Marinus Link project, declaring he will not engage in further discussions with the Government until key questions are publicly answered.
Mr Garland has expressed alarm that the Rockliff Government has walked away from its repeated, clear commitments to release the Marinus Link Whole-of-State Business Case 30 days before any final investment decision was to be made.
“This Government has repeatedly promised Tasmanians that the business case for Marinus would be released at least 30 days before a final investment decision so MPs and the public would be informed about its merits” Mr Garland said.
“But now, just two days before the Government is expected to make the final investment decision on the biggest infrastructure project in the State’s history, I and other crossbenchers were offered a last-minute, confidential briefing in Hobart. At the start of the briefing, I was told I couldn’t take any documents or share with the public what I learned—even though it will profoundly affect our State’s future.”
Mr Garland, who was a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Energy looking into the impact of the $5 billion Marinus Link project on Tasmanian power prices before the election was, said”
“Based on the evidence given to the Energy Committee I was deeply concerned that transmission costs for Tasmanians—especially our big industries – would rise considerably because of Marinus, and what I saw during this briefing only confirmed those concerns”.
He noted that throughout the election campaign, the Government failed to mention or release the Whole-of-State Business Case, which it received in mid-May, and had very little to say about Marinus Link.
“This is the biggest infrastructure project in Tasmania’s history, and the public was denied the chance to assess its merits before voting in the election. Apparently, the public won’t even get to see the business case until after the final decision is made”.
Mr Garland is now demanding the Premier and Cabinet come clean on a series of urgent questions:
Why has the Government broken its promise to release the Whole-of-State Business Case 30 days before making a final decision?
Why were opposition and crossbench MPs only given confidential, read-only access two days before the final investment decision is expected?
Where does the Government get its mandate to sign us up to Marinus Link when it said nothing about it during the election campaign and withheld the business case from voters and candidates alike?
“I’m not asking these questions behind closed doors. With a project of this magnitude, the people of Tasmania deserve answers. Until those answers are provided publicly, I won’t be engaging in any further discussions with the Premier.”
“How can I, or the public for that matter, be expected to have trust and confidence in this Rockliff Government, in the face of such secrecy?”
Media release – Sarah Lovell MLC, 30 July 2025
Rockliff goes to ground as integrity issues mount
Jeremy Rockliff is in hiding again.
At a time when Tasmanians deserve answers to serious questions about Marinus, TT-Line, caretaker breaches, and his government’s integrity, Rockliff has vanished from public view and gone completely to ground.
Not only is he avoiding the tough questions, but he’s also now silencing his own Ministers.
Energy Minister Nick Duigan was blocked from briefing Labor on the Marinus business case during the election campaign, and now he’s being blocked from going on ABC Radio to discuss the Marinus Link business case. Why won’t he let his own Energy Minister speak? What is Jeremy Rockliff trying to hide?
Multiple crossbenchers have now slammed Rockliff’s handling of this saga – his credibility is in tatters.
How on earth is he going to lead a ‘stable’ government when he’s still blocking briefings, hiding documents, gagging his Ministers and ducking accountability?
Tasmanians expect leadership. They expect transparency. And right now, they’re getting neither from Jeremy Rockliff.
Media release – Meg Webb, independent MLC for Nelson, 30 July 2025
Marinus Business Case Secrecy Stinks
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb confirmed she received a confidential departmental briefing on the Marinus Link Business Case today, describing the last-minute nature of the process as disturbing and tokenistic.
“The failure by the caretaker Liberal government to honour its commitment to release publicly the Marinus whole of-state business case prior to a decision being made is a blatant broken promise and a fundamental breach of faith with Tasmanians,” Ms Webb said.
“In 2023, then-Energy Minister Guy Barnett used a formal Ministerial Statement in Parliament undertaking that the Marinus business case would be completed, independently peer-reviewed and released publicly at least 30 days before a financial decision is due. That has not happened.
“The Premier repeated last week on radio the promise to release the business case. As we know, that still has not happened.”
Ms Webb said that sadly, the secrecy stench surrounding this caretaker Liberal Government continues to grow.
“Broken promises at any time, let alone on such a massive project that has serious long-term implications for our State and its finances, will continue to erode community trust in this Government
“I grappled with concerns about receiving a confidential briefing on matters which will have serious ramifications for my electorate but which I could not share with my electorate.
“However, on the basis that I have a responsibility as an elected representative to ensure I am as well informed as I can be, particularly on matters which may involve future decision, I did accept the briefing noting the confidentiality constraints required.
“Without breaching that confidentiality I can confirm that volumes of complex documentation were provided, which was impossible to assess or consider properly within the constrained timeframe, which made this already secretive process further farcical.”
Ms Webb urged the current Liberal caretaker Government to honour its promise made in the Parliament and to the Tasmanian people to release immediately both the Marinus whole-of-state business case and its independent peer review.
House of Assembly Hansard excerpt, 5 September 2023 – Ministerial Statement delivered by the Energy Minister, the Hon Guy Barnett MP:
“It is important to note that the project is still subject to a whole-of-state business case and financial investment decision. The whole-of-state business case will consider the financial, economic and social impacts of Project Marinus and its associated energy projects and issues on Tasmania and the Tasmanian community. This work will be led by Treasury and will be prepared in the context of the information available at the time. The business case will be completed and independently peer-reviewed at least 30 days before a financial investment decision is due and will be made publicly available.”
Media release – Environment Tasmania, 30 July 2025
Environment Tasmania Condemns Government Secrecy on Marinus Link
Environment Tasmania is alarmed by reports that the Rockliff Government may sign off on the $5 billion Marinus Link project – the largest infrastructure investment in Tasmania’s history – while in caretaker mode and without releasing the promised Whole-of-State Business Case.
The government had repeatedly committed to publishing the business case at least 30 days before any Final Investment Decision. Yet it now appears to be walking away from that promise, potentially rushing approval through in secret, without parliamentary debate or public scrutiny.
“Public trust in the state’s roll-out of renewables, particularly in areas most impacted by Marinus, is on a knife-edge. Pushing this enormous and highly controversial project through, behind closed doors and whilst in caretaker mode, would represent a killer blow to any hopes of securing social licence for Tasmania’s energy transition,” said Environment Tasmania CEO James Overington.
Decisions around Marinus Link have become increasingly opaque, despite serious concerns about rising costs, social licence and environmental impacts. The government’s lack of transparency continues to erode community trust.
Environment Tasmania joins a growing chorus of voices across the state calling on the Rockliff Government to immediately release the Whole-of-State Business Case and delay any decision until the public has had a meaningful opportunity to assess the facts.
“The level of secrecy regarding this project is undemocratic.” said Maddie McShane, Energy and Climate Campaigner at Environment Tasmania. “If this is how the Liberal government is handling the state’s biggest infrastructure investment, how can the community be expected to trust them with other energy projects?”
Media release – Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Tasmania, 31 July 2025
Tasmanians to Pay the Price for $5 Billion Marinus Link — While Local Businesses and Farmers Miss Out
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Tasmania is calling for transparency and accountability over the $5 billion Marinus Link project — warning it could saddle Tasmanian households, businesses and farmers with the costs, while delivering few local benefits.
“Rising bills, secret deals, and powerlines through private farms — Tasmanians deserve better.” — Adrian Pickin
Although Tasmania’s direct contribution to the project is capped at 15%, network charges will still flow through to electricity users via TasNetworks — potentially costing Tasmanians hundreds of millions in higher power bills over coming decades.
“We’re being told Marinus will bring down prices, but all we’re seeing is the opposite — rising costs, zero transparency, and farmland being torn up,” said Adrian Pickin, Spokesperson and Chair of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Tasmania.
Recent modelling suggested:
Households will see increased charges on their power bills;
Small and medium businesses could be hit with $100 to over $1,000 in extra annual charges;
Large industrial users may be slugged with hundreds of thousands per year in new costs.
“TasNetworks passes on the cost — and it’s everyday Tasmanians who pay the price.”
“These high-voltage powerlines are being forced through the north-west with little regard for the people who live and work there,” Pickin said. “Landowners are being treated as collateral damage in a deal they never signed up for.”
Tasmanians Left in the Dark
Despite the scale and cost of Marinus Link, Tasmanian energy users are still being refused basic access to power.
Norske Skog’s Boyer Mill, the state’s largest industrial power user, has been denied a 50 MW upgrade needed for boiler electrification. A Central Highlands strawberry farmer was quoted nearly $1 million to connect a small processing shed — putting local agribusiness expansion out of reach.
“If we can’t power a shed or a pulp mill, who is Marinus really for?”
“How can a $5 billion infrastructure project supposedly ‘strengthen the grid’, yet Tasmanian industry and agriculture are still left powerless?” Pickin asked.
The government continues to withhold the full Marinus Link business case — including cost assumptions and projected benefits — from public scrutiny. If Marinus is such a good deal, why are the numbers being kept secret?”
“Tasmanians are being asked to trust a process they’re not even allowed to see,” Pickin said. “That’s not transparency — that’s blindfolding the public.”
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Tasmania is also raising serious concerns about whether key decisions on Marinus Link are even legal during caretaker mode.
“How can a government in caretaker mode commit to a $5 billion deal without Parliament or the public?”
“Surely Caretaker conventions exist to prevent governments making major financial commitments during an election period,” Pickin said. “This looks more like backroom deal-making than good governance.”
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