The Prime Minister has today failed to deliver any new information on a pathway forward for the Marinus Link project, including crucial clarity around how the $3.5 billion bill will be paid.
Shadow Energy Minister David O'Byrne said the "announcement" by the Federal Liberal Government in Launceston today was meaningless without specific detail about the future of the project.
"What it does show is that the Morrison Government has no confidence in the Gutwein Government or Energy Minister Guy Barnett to deliver," Mr O'Byrne said.
"The Prime Minister has effectively expressed no confidence in the Gutwein Government by taking a controlling stake in the special purpose vehicle charged with progressing the project.
"Like most Tasmanians, he clearly doesn't have any confidence that this government is capable of getting important infrastructure built.
"Tasmanians are right to be sceptical considering just last week we learned that Mr Barnett has not met with or spoken to the Victorian Government about progress of the critical Marinus Link project as he continues on his usual path of inaction.
"The position of the Victorian Government is crucial as to whether Marinus goes ahead - and to Tasmanians avoiding paying higher electricity prices - but Mr Barnett has not so much as picked up the phone.
"Today the Prime Minister has failed to say how it will be paid for.
"He failed to provide a timeline for when it will go ahead.
"It's shrouded in uncertainty and the Prime Minister's re-announcement today shows it is no closer to coming to fruition.
"Every project this government touches it fumbles and this is yet another example.
"For Tasmania to become the battery of the nation and for Marinus Link to reach its full potential, Tasmanians require a real commitment and we are just not seeing that."
David O'Byrne MP
Shadow Treasurer and Minister for Energy
