Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Minister for Energy

Tuesday 6th July 2010

Hydro Hung Out to Dry by Minister

In Parliament today, the Minister for Energy, Bryan Green, refused to explain why it appeared Hydro has been setup as the fall guy for Aurora's financial difficulties.

A memo from Hydro's senior management, sent the day after the Premier announced that the Treasurer would resume setting some power prices in Tasmania, confirms that Hydro are not impressed by the Labor-Green Government's actions. The memo states "we are deeply concerned at the inference that our commercial behaviour is somehow to blame for Aurora's poor financial position".

When given the opportunity to rule out hanging Hydro out to dry the Minister couldn't and instead tried to play the man and not the ball.

The only thing that Bryan Green did confirm today in answer to questions was to confirm that the ACCC inquiry into Hydro was still ongoing.

What this highlights is that Bryan Green simply doesn't have a clue what to do with the energy sector. His only lifeline is to say that the Expert Panel will fix everything, but that Panel will not report for at least a year.

Is the Minister saying that for the next year we will have no energy policy at all? It simply beggars belief a nd shows just how out of his depth Bryan Green is.