The Liberal government’s refusal to provide clear answers on the financial performance of Hydro Tasmania raises more questions about Hydro’s significant losses and shows a complete lack of transparency.
Labor gave both the Premier Jeremy Rockliff and his Energy Minister Guy Barnett numerous opportunities during Question Time to provide an update on the size of Hydro’s losses this financial year following the termination of the Basslink Services agreement earlier this year.
But, instead they hid behind Hydro Tasmania’s statement yesterday, which made it clear Tasmanians won’t receive any answers about the losses until the 2022-23 annual report is released in October next year.
This government has an obligation to tell Tasmanians that the state’s most important business is losing money even though prices in the national energy market are at their highest level ever.
Tasmanians already struggling with the Liberals’ massive 12 per cent increase to power bills deserve to know whether Hydro’s losses will be recouped from households and businesses through even bigger price increases.
It is not good enough to deflect and dodge legitimate question about Hydro Tasmania’s performance and this government needs to tell Tasmanians, the owners of Hydro, exactly what is going on.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
