The Liberal Government has advocated strongly for retention of the Renewable Energy Target scheme with a full exemption for Tasmania’s trade exposed major industrials.
Since the release of the Warburton Report we have strongly reinforced our unequivocal support for the RET scheme directly with the Commonwealth Government.
It is clear that our lobbying is having a positive effect. Since my latest visit to Canberra to push Tasmania’s case we have been pleased to see movement from both sides of federal politics towards a position which would support the Tasmanian economy and protect jobs.
Now is the time for Bryan Green and the Tasmanian Labor party to make a break from their Green allies and support the Liberal Government’s push for a continued RET scheme with a full exemption for Tasmania’s trade exposed major industrials.
The Greens have made clear that they will oppose a full exemption for Tasmanian industry, putting hundreds of Tasmanian jobs at risk. To support the Greens anti-jobs agenda would be comprehensive proof that Greens and Labor have become one and the same.
To date Labor’s only position on energy has been to support Tasmanian families and businesses paying tens of millions of extra carbon tax dollars for their power to provide bigger returns to Government. They must do better on the issue of the RET and a full exemption for Tasmania’s major industrials.
We will continue to advocate our position to Canberra and we call on the Tasmanian Labor Party to support it.
Matthew Groom, Minister for Energy
