From one crisis to yet another
WITH Matthew Groom as Minister for Energy we’ve had: the state almost blacked out in May 2016; a seemingly endless commercial stoush between Hydro and Basslink; and now a breakdown in negotiations between Tasmanian Gas Pipeline (TGP) and Hydro over future gas transmission costs to the Tamar Valley gas generation assets.
As publicly reported Hydro have rejected a 45 per cent reduction in their gas transmission costs, which TGP claim will now lead to a 95 per cent increase in gas transmission costs for the state’s major industrials. Hydro also have claimed that they can provide “insurance” gas generation from the Tamar Valley by using gas supplied on an as available basis rather than committing to firm supply. Given the acknowledged shortfall of our island generation capacity this seems to be little more than wishful thinking. Wishful thinking, and leaning on our state’s major industrial gas using businesses to provide Hydro room to dig its way out of predictable crises of their own making.
When it comes to commercial stoushes over critical energy insurance assets, to lose one asset looks like misfortune, to lose both assets looks like carelessness. Minister Groom — and indeed Hydro — may earn a reputation for being petulant and unrealistic, to the cost of all Tasmanians.
Forest wars over
WHY is it that whenever I read an article by Resources Minister Guy Barnett (Talking Point, July 4), I experience an overwhelming conviction that somewhere in a patch of remnant rainforest in a SouthEast Asian palm oil plantation, there still exists a Japanese soldier who doesn’t realise that WWII has ended?
Good problems to have
IT must be an absolute nightmare for those players on contracts with Cricket Australia filling in tax returns. Just think of fringe benefits. Free travel, accommodation, all meals, multiple uniforms, dry cleaning, sponsored equipment, massage physiotherapy and so on. In addition, an extra $14,000 for playing in a Test Match, $7000 for a 50-over game, and $7000 for a Twenty20!
Vote needed
RALPH Marshall (Letters, July 6) is incorrect in a number of his assertions regarding marriage. John Howard’s amendment to the Marriage Act never changed the definition of marriage, it only solidified what was already in the Act for example, section 46 — that marriage only meant the union of a man and woman. Redefining marriage by removing the man/ woman component, thus turning on its head a definition that has served generations and cultures across the world for mil- lennia, is a different proposition. The most recent public poll on the subject — Essential Research June 17, showed 61 per cent of Australians want a people’s vote with only 27 per cent wanting politicians to decide in parliament. A people’s vote makes sense given more than 17 bills to remove man/woman from the Act have been voted down and this government was elected promising a plebiscite. Marriage is too important to be kicked around as a political football — let the people decide.
Thank you, kind stranger
I LOST my mobile phone somewhere outside 188 Collins St. I put it down as I organised some papers for a job interview and failed to pick it up again. I’d just like to say thank you so very much to the kind, honest person who found it and handed it into the cafe in the 188 Collins St precinct. Like so many people, so much of my life is contained in my phone, and I was devastated by the prospect of having lost it. I hope that person reads the Mercury, because I cannot thank them enough.
Someone tell Tony
AUSTRALIA has ex-PM Abbott, Who simply can’t break the habit of wrecking and whining and snide undermining, ’Cos he can’t accept that he’s had it.