Tasmanian power plays questioned
Tasmania’s Opposition says businesses are still skittish after the failed sale of the Tamar Valley Power Station in 2014.
The Government never found a buyer for the mothballed asset, which was handy during this year’s Tasmanian energy crisis when the old station needed to be brought back online.
At a parliamentary inquiry into the power crisis last week, a number of big businesses and major energy users criticised the government’s attempted sale.
They had a range of issues focused largely on the lack of consultation ahead of the sale, the value and purpose of the sale, and the lack of plans for when it was gone.
Tasmanian Opposition Leader, Labor's Bryan Green, says the dealings hurt business confidence.
He says some major players are still thinking of leaving the island state.
“It's that vulnerability that has me worried now with our major industrials because, you know, one link out of that chain and the whole energy situation in Tasmania effectively collapses,” he said.
Some energy analysts appear to agree, telling reporters that the major companies would be keeping a close watch on energy policy in Tasmania.
Treasurer Peter Gutwein called on Mr Green to name one company that was considering leaving.
“I challenge Mr Green to name which major industrial he says is leaving the state, but I am sure that this is nothing but another attempt to scare Tasmanians,” Gutwein said.
“This is just another example of the recent reckless behaviour seen from Bryan Green.
“He seems intent on talking down our state, whatever the cost, and with complete disregard for business confidence.”
The legal battle has seen Hydro Tasmania and Basslink fighting over how much compensation should be paid for the December cable outage.
Insiders claim Hydro is seeking to use dispute resolution clauses in its contract with Basslink to secure an amount in the tens of millions of dollars.