Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Minister for Energy

Tuesday 8th June 2010

Power Prices Set to Rise

Another day, another broken promise from David Bartlett. This time it looks like all Tasmanians will be paying more for power by the end of the year.

In yet another attack on the hip pocket of Tasmanians, David Bartlett is moving away from his election promise of capping price rises at 5% for ALL Tasmanians.

In another supreme display of weasel words, the Premier appears to be suggesting that the 5% cap will only apply to some, not all, Tasmanian households.

The Premier must immediately explain who will be eligible for the price cap and who won't be. He must also explain why he has abandoned this high-profile policy.

Is it because Aurora is in significant financial trouble, as the Energy Minister, Bryan Green, refuses to rule out?

It is Tasmanian taxpayers that own Aurora, not the Government, and if Aurora is in trouble the Government should say so and not keep it hidden.

The fear is that Tasmanian taxpayers will be forced to bail out Aurora through higher power prices, because the Government's energy policy has been a dismal failure.