Allaying fears over Marinus bill shock

THE State Government has moved to reassure Tasmanians they won’t pay more for power than interstate customers once a second Bass Strait interconnector is up and running.

Independent Clark MP Andrew Wilkie said under the current pricing rules Tasmanians would end up with higher power bills than people in New South Wales and Victoria.

“This is a ludicrous situation and the State Government must get on the front foot and go to COAG, stand up to the bigger states and the Federal Government, and secure a fair deal for Tasmania for its renewable energy,” Mr Wilkie said.

“Tasmanians cannot be lumped with half of a $3 billion bill for building an undersea cable to deliver lower power prices in NSW and Victoria.”

However Energy Minister Guy Barnett said a review was already under way to ensure Tasmanians paid a fair price for power under the future scheme.

“This is an absolutely embarrassing gaffe from Federal Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, who if he’d bothered to check, would know the Tasmanian Government secured support from other state energy ministers for a review of interconnector pricing arrangements last year at the 2019 COAG Energy Council meeting,” Mr Barnett said.

“The review, due June 2020, will consider how current rules can be changed to protect Tasmania’s current low domestic and small business power prices with a fair cost allocation approach.”

The estimated cost for the Marinus Link is $3.5 billion, with discussions under way around how the cost will be shared between governments.