Premier Peter Gutwein has refused to rule out his privatisation by stealth agenda with his proposed sale of key Hydro assets Momentum Energy and Entura as the Liberal Government forges ahead with a mass downsizing of Hydro staff.
Shadow Minister for Energy David O'Byrne said the Premier had flippantly dismissed concerns that the two entities would be sold off and said nothing was off the table in State Parliament today, leaving the door open for the privatisation of Hydro by stealth.
"The Premier's refusal to rule out selling Momentum and Entura means workers should be concerned and there are potentially more Tasmanian jobs on the chopping block," Mr O'Byrne said.
"Entura has the intellectual knowledge to take Tasmanian expertise to the world and Momentum is a profitable and important entity to our state in maintaining that renewable energy reputation.
"But the Premier has them in his sights for privatisation.
"Tasmanians are tired of hearing about a so-called renewable energy jobs bonanza when all we are seeing is hardworking Tasmanians being put out of work.
"We saw in Question Time yesterday the Premier's refusal to intervene to save the 50 jobs being cut from Hydro and today's revelations place further question marks over worker's heads.
"The sale of key Hydro assets would only put more Tasmanian jobs on the line.
"Premier Peter Gutwein and Energy Minister Guy Barnett must act in the best interest of Tasmanians and rule this out."
David O'Byrne MP
Shadow Minister for Energy
