Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson
Goanna Energy's submission to the Tasmanian Energy Security Taskforce is an indictment on Energy Minister, Matthew Groom.
He was the Minister responsible for the poor risk management practices over the period April to July 2015, that resulted in low dam levels during a dry summer period, from a super El Niño and positive Indian Ocean dipole.
Despite the extremely low rainfall conditions predicted by international agencies 18 months beforehand, Minister Groom took no proactive action to protect our energy supply.
Instead, he allowed dam levels to run down to produce electricity for export, and prioritised financial dividends to prop up the Liberal’s so-called Budget surplus.
When the Basslink cable failed, Tasmania had minimal water reserves left as an insurance policy. Goanna Energy's submission makes it clear Minister Groom’s decisions placed the State in a precarious position, irrespective of its failure.
This is another industry player that’s laid the blame for the summer's energy crisis solely on Minister Groom's shoulders. It's time he accepted his responsibility for his appalling mismanagement of the Energy portfolio and the depth of crisis that occurred.
The submission also makes it clear that Tasmania needs more options to have real energy security, including by investing in renewables like wind power. A future-thinking Energy Minister would be advocating to diversify Tasmania's renewable energy sector beyond water.
Minister Groom needs to reform and show some leadership by committing to a 100% renewable energy target, regardless of rainfall.