Minister’s announcement light on detail around costs and delivery timeline
clearly does not trust Gutwein Government to deliver
and Federal Liberals still not providing certainty on Marinus
The
Prime Minister has today failed to deliver any new information on a pathway
forward for the Marinus Link project, including crucial clarity around how the
$3.5 billion bill will be paid.
Shadow
Energy Minister David O’Byrne said the “announcement” by the Federal Liberal
Government in Launceston today was meaningless without specific detail about
the future of the project.
“What
it does show is that the Morrison Government has no confidence in the Gutwein
Government or Energy Minister Guy Barnett to deliver,” Mr O’Byrne said.
“The
Prime Minister has effectively expressed no confidence in the Gutwein
Government by taking a controlling stake in the special purpose vehicle charged
with progressing the project.
“Like
most Tasmanians, he clearly doesn’t have any confidence that this government is
capable of getting important infrastructure built.
“Tasmanians
are right to be sceptical considering just last week we learned that Mr Barnett
has not met with or spoken to the Victorian Government about progress of the
critical Marinus Link project as he continues on his usual path of inaction.
“The
position of the Victorian Government is crucial as to whether Marinus goes
ahead – and to Tasmanians avoiding paying higher electricity prices – but Mr
Barnett has not so much as picked up the phone.
“Today
the Prime Minister has failed to say how it
will be paid for.
“He
failed to provide a timeline for when it will go ahead.
“It’s
shrouded in uncertainty and the Prime Minister’s re-announcement today shows it
is no closer to coming to fruition.
“Every project this government touches it fumbles and this is yet another example.
“For Tasmania to become the battery of the nation and for Marinus Link to reach its full potential, Tasmanians require a real commitment and we are just not seeing that.”
David O’Byrne MP
Shadow Treasurer and Minister for Energy