Energy Minister Guy Barnett has demonstrated once again how out of depth he is in his own portfolio.
I asked Mr Barnett in Question Time this morning for confirmation that the Gutwein government had been offered an agreement on Marinus Link by the Federal Government but had rejected it.
Mr Barnett gave a typically meandering response that went nowhere near answering this simple question.
It was unclear if Mr Barnett even knew about the offer since Premier Peter Gutwein appears to be now running the portfolio himself.
The government must come clean about whether it has rejected an offer from the Australian Government in relation to Project Marinus. What was in the offer?
The energy portfolio is critical to Tasmania's future and it deserves a Minister who is across all aspects of it.
Mr Barnett has shown time and time again that he is not this person and if he is unable to stay up to date on such an important project as Marinus Link, then he is clearly not up to the job.
People and businesses need energy security confidence to continue to invest in Tasmania, and under Minister Barnett they don't have this.
If Guy Barnett can't deliver what Tasmania needs to provide that confidence, perhaps Peter Gutwein needs to find an Energy Minister who can.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
