LABOR GOADS LIBS ON POWER PRICES BILL

LABOR has dared the Liberals to return to parliament in minority to allow an Opposition Bill capping power prices to pass.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff is mulling whether the House of Assembly should resume as scheduled on August 9, despite the Liberals being one MP down until a recount in Franklin is completed.

Labor’s energy spokesman Dean Winter said his party would not back a noconfidence motion, but would take the opportunity to cap power price rises.

The party has proposed a Bill to limit power price increases to 2.5 per cent — rather than the 11.88 per cent increase imposed by the Tasmanian Economic Regulator.

“The 9th of August is when the Tasmanian parliament is due to come back. We’ve had almost eight weeks off now and it’s time for the parliament to return and to debate the most important issue for Tasmanian households and that’s the cost of living,’’ Mr Winter said.

“Labor is saying to the government, we need to delink from this national electricity market which is in chaos, which is causing prices to go up and up and up.

“Tasmanians can’t understand why when we have clean, renewable, plentiful, cheap electricity, why they have to pay more just because there’s a crisis across the rest of Australia.”

Energy and Renewables Minister Guy Barnett said Mr Winter was staging a cheap media stunt.

“Mr Winter and Labor need to explain what essential services they would cut to fund their flawed price cap – teachers, doctors, nurses or do they suggest we build less houses for the homeless?” Mr Barnett said.

“Introducing a price cap on wholesale electricity prices would be the wrong move for our state and for Tasmanians who need support the most.

“It would result in less funding for the essential services Tasmanians need.”