Yet another major industrial company is set to leave Tasmania because of the minority Liberal government's energy policy debacle, putting another nail in the coffin of their Hydrogen Action Plan.
Labor understands Origin Energy has not renewed any of its business association memberships and will also not be making any hydrogen investments in Tasmania.
Two months ago, the Energy Minister Guy Barnett claimed Fortescue Future Industries remained "committed to Tasmania," only for the company to advise it would not be investing in the state because it had no access to power - and that it had made its entire Tasmanian workforce redundant.
When asked about Origin Energy's plans in Parliament this morning, Minister Barnett refused to deny they were bailing out of Tasmania, instead claiming he continues to "back in" the Hydrogen Action Plan.
How can this Minister claim to back in the Hydrogen Action Plan when major industrials are backing out of the state?
In July last year the Minister said the government would "support Tasmania to become a significant global producer and exporter of green hydrogen by 2030".
But after a decade of energy policy failures, the Liberals have dashed Tasmania's chances of becoming a major hydrogen producer and have no plan to produce more power except for building Marinus, which won't come online until 2030 even with a Federal Government bailout.
This is a massive failure of policy under Mr Barnett's watch and his only solution is to mislead Tasmanians and further jeopardise the state's economic prospects.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables
