Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson
The assertion by the Premier that a second Basslink would be funded by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation is almost laughable. According to John Lawrence, Tasmania is in an economic crisis, and the Premier needs to be very careful he doesn't rush into committing us to an expensive coal-powered dependency when the world is in a renewable energy transition.
We're in this energy crisis because we don't have enough on-island renewable options, not because we don't have a coal import back up.
If the CEFC are to invest in infrastructure in Tasmania, their first order should be to help us secure clean energy on the island, not keep us dependent on importing coal energy from the mainland.
Begging Canberra for a second Basslink is the epitome of repeating your mistake and expecting a different result.
Ray Mostogl, CEO of Bell Bay Aluminium, was reluctant to support rushing into a second Basslink without seriously looking at the assets we've got first when he addressed the recent Senate Inquiry into Tasmania's energy crisis.
The government should be promoting clean energy, for the sake of our industries' reputations as well as our environment. It's unthinkable to be importing coal-fire power with two cables.
Minister Groom and Premier Hodgman have clearly learnt nothing from the last four months. We are in this crisis because they didn't invest enough in renewable energy and ignored the climate warnings.