Tasmanian businesses screaming out for power price relief for almost a year have been plunged into even deeper uncertainty by Jeremy Rockliff’s Government being thrown into minority.
Today I was joined by Julia Ridgers, who runs Brookfield Shed, a much-loved café and restaurant at Margate.
Ms Ridgers’ business is under pressure as she deals with rising power prices in a business environment where the cost of everything is going up.
It was only three months ago that the Liberals announced power price relief would arrive this financial year. They have already broken that promise with no relief being available until next financial year – and even then they won’t cap prices.
Brookfield is also ineligible for the Government’s business hardship scheme.
Now the Rockliff Government is in minority, businesses are even more concerned that relief will never come.
Tasmania has its own clean, reliable, affordable electricity generation – yet the Tasmanian Liberal Government has insisted that we pay high mainland prices.
This decision is hurting Tasmanians and demonstrates how wrong the Premier’s priorities are.
A Tasmanian Labor government would cap power prices so that all Tasmanian families and businesses pay Tasmanian prices for Tasmanian power.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy
