The Tasmanian Greens today warned that it was the combined legacy of failed Labor and Liberal energy policies that underpinned Tasmania’s current soaring electricity prices, which is precisely why the Greens have referred the issue of retail contestability to the Energy Expert Advisory Panel – a panel initiated by the Greens.
Greens Energy spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that the Economic Regulator and TASCOSS had both raised concerns about the impact domestic retail contestability could have, which is why the Greens referred it to the independent Energy Expert Review Panel for its investigation and advice.
“Why let a Liberal or Labor MP mess around with incredibly complex electricity supply and consumption, when there is an independent panel of experts who would do a much better job? Patently, Labor and Liberal failed energy policies mean it can’t be allowed to happen again,” said Mr Booth.
“Time and time again, mums and dads bear the costs of ill-conceived knee-jerk energy decisions, which reflect identical – and identically flawed – Labor and Liberal lockstep energy policies, just like the Basslink cable. The Greens warned Basslink would be an expensive folly, and it is.”
“The failed AETV power station is another example of an ill-conceived decision the Greens warned would see massive hikes in electricity prices hitting the pockets of mums and dads – but not those responsible for the bad decisions in the first place.”
“It’s outrageous Tasmanians could have to pay for more ill-advised energy decisions by politicians after a quick headline. This is why the Greens have referred the issue of domestic retail contestability to the Greens initiated independent Energy Expert Panel, to ensure its implementation does not end up financially hurting those it should help.”
“Poor policy decisions by Labor, supported by the Liberals, has driven the cost of power through the roof, putting another cost-of-living burden on Tasmanians, especially our most vulnerable,” Mr Booth said.
Kim Booth MP
Greens Energy spokesperson
