The Government has today released for public comment an Issues Paper that outlines key themes to be considered in the development of a Tasmanian Energy Strategy.
The Liberal Government is committed to developing a whole of state Energy Strategy as part of our policy to make energy a competitive advantage for the State which helps to drive economic growth.
The previous Labor-Green government failed to develop a whole of state integrated energy strategy. As a result power prices have increased dramatically over the past decade and access to competition is very limited.
Over the past decade, retail electricity prices have increased significantly, although there has been welcome power price relief for Tasmanians this year with the repeal of the carbon tax saving a typical household about $164 a year – money which Labor and the Greens want Tasmanians to keep paying.
However it is critical that we now re-examine the energy sector in Tasmania to ensure that we remain competitive and have an affordable energy supply which can underpin growth, now and into the future.
We also need to ensure that Tasmania leverages our advantage in renewable energy for the benefit of consumers and our economy.
The Liberal Government is unequivocal in our support for the Renewable Energy Target (RET), which recognises and rewards Tasmania’s generation of clean renewable energy through Hydro Tasmania. The RET supports Tasmanian jobs and economic growth and we continue to strongly lobby the Commonwealth Government to retain it.
The release of the Issues Paper is an opportunity for Tasmanians to have their say on the development of the Tasmanian Energy Strategy.
The key themes in the issues paper include sustainable electricity pricing, helping vulnerable customers, using energy to improve productivity and efficiency, economic development opportunities, and how we can best prepare for our energy future.
The Energy Strategy will also be informed by advice from the Energy Working Group which we established in April.
The Government is also keeping stakeholders informed about the development of the strategy. Today members of the Energy Supply Association of Australia held member briefings in Hobart and I will meet with members tonight for further discussions.
The Liberal Government is committed to making energy our competitive advantage again.
To read the issues paper, make a submission, or find out more about the Energy Strategy, please visit www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/energy/strategy.
Matthew Groom, Minister for Energy
