The centrepiece
energy policy of Jeremy Rockliff’s State of the State speech will fail to
assist nearly 95 per cent of business customers on market contracts for energy.
The Government’sSupplementary
Appropriation Bill reveals the Liberals are seeking to appropriate $6
million to fund their energy hardship scheme.
If just 300
businesses receive a $20,000 grant through the scheme, the $6 million budget
will be exhausted.
There are
approximately 5,000 Tasmanian businesses on market contracts for energy that
are suffering as a result of the Liberal Government’s broken promises on power
prices.
What are the
other 4,700 businesses who miss out on grants supposed to do once the money
runs out?
Many of these
businesses are facing energy costs that are up to three times what they
previously paid, and the relief offered by the Liberals is nothing more than a
drop in the ocean.
The Government
has already had to revise the hardship scheme once because of its failure to
consult with Tasmanian businesses, many of which were locked out of the scheme
only hours after it was announced.
The Liberals are showing that they are making things up as they go when it comes to energy, and Tasmanian businesses and households are literally paying the price.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy & Emissions Reduction
