That this house:
1. Notes that Hydro storages have increased for the first time since the Basslink cable broke.
2. Understands that we are still a long way from being free from the energy crisis.
3. Acknowledges that:-
a. Tasmanians will pay dearly for Minister Groom’s Energy Supply Plan, including his diesel generators, which will cost Tasmanians, the ultimate owners of Hydro Tasmania, hundreds of millions of dollars; and
b. that the Minister’s Energy Supply Plan risks pushing up electricity prices in the future, with the greatest impact on low-income Tasmanians.
4. Recognises that at the start of the crisis, the Minister had the opportunity to:-
a. allow the government to lead by example, putting in place targets and actions to enable government (including its departments and businesses) to reduce its electricity consumption;
b. work with local council’s to find energy savings in our towns and public spaces; and
c. provide information and assistance to small business and Tasmanian households to implement energy efficiency measures and find energy savings.
5. Understands Minister Groom continues to squander those opportunities and in the meantime the costs continue to accrue.
6. Calls on the Minister to put in place policies to reduce the cost of the energy crisis to Tasmanians through enabling electricity reductions from government (including its departments and businesses), local councils, small businesses and Tasmanian households who combined account for nearly 50% of energy use in the state.