The Liberal Government and Minister for Energy Guy Barnett must explain why Hydro is slashing five percent of its workforce in a major betrayal of its promise to make Tasmania an international renewables leader.
Shadow Energy Minister David O'Byrne said the Liberals had promised a jobs bonanza with a renewable strategy but the first act of Hydro's new CEO was to instead cut jobs.
"This is an absolute betrayal of the renewable energy promise by Guy Barnett," Mr O'Byrne said.
"At a time when they are telling the world we are the centre of renewable energy expertise and the government is promising thousands of jobs, the first act of the new hand-picked CEO is to cut five per cent of the workforce.
"That's a betrayal of that promise. Labor asked a series of questions in Estimates in December last year around job numbers and restructures and no mention was made of this major restructure. The government must have been aware that when they appointed this new CEO this was his plan.
"As Tasmania emerges from the COVID pandemic, the last thing the state needs is Premier Peter Gutwein cutting jobs despite his commitment not to.
"Hydro has been in constant restructure mode costing Tasmanian taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in expensive payouts and that means that the government's promise is a lie.
"Guy Barnett has promised massive benefits from projects like Marinus and pumped Hydro but all he has delivered is broken promises and job cuts.
"The constant restructures and payouts to executives do not match the constant rhetoric of Mr Barnett and the Government.
"To add to the insult, Hydro Tasmania's efficiency drive will not reduce power prices so is the Government planning to pocket even higher dividends?"
David O'Byrne MP
Shadow Minister for Energy
