Liberals must fix energy debacle they created 11 August 2023

Tas Labor

Premier Jeremy Rockliff and his Energy Minister Guy Barnett owe Tasmanians an apology for the complete mess they have made of their own energy policy and the massive cost and uncertainty for households and businesses.

The Liberals have botched every aspect of their energy policy – and Tasmanians are paying the price.

There is no power available for any new business or for existing businesses to expand.

The government has had three different positions on Marinus Link in the past week, and is now pinning all its hopes on a bailout from the Federal Government.

And families are in a world of pain because power bills have gone up by almost $500 for the average household.

All of this is because the minority Liberal government broke its promise to Tasmanians and abandoned the policy it took to the last election to cap power prices.

No amount of spin from Minister Barnett will change the fact that the Liberals created all of this confusion and uncertainty by trying to wriggle out of what they promised Tasmanians.

They need to fix the mess they created by going back to the policy that remains on their own website and capping power prices.

Labor will cap power prices at 2.5 per cent a year for all households and small businesses in the first 100 days of government and we will also re-establish the electricity rebate scheme that was in place in 2018.

Tasmanians deserve to pay Tasmanian prices for Tasmanian power and a Labor government will ensure this happens both now and in the future.

Dean Winter MP

Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables

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