WHAT THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES ARE:
- Lowest possible power prices for Tasmanians
- Enable economic growth and job creation in Tasmania.
Underpinning Principle: Tasmanian Energy Security
Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will:
- Tear-up Hydro’s existing Ministerial Charter and issue a new directive that requires that Tasmanian prices and Tasmanian jobs must come first.
An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future is to continue to deliver economic growth and job creation for all Tasmanians.
The Hydro was built by Tasmanians, for Tasmanians.
The Hydro has been cornerstone of Tasmania’s economic growth over the past century, and these changes will ensure Hydro is once again a Tasmanian powerhouse that drives our economic growth into the future – a true economic enabler.
Throughout the last century the expansion of hydro-electric generation in Tasmania drove economic growth, investment and job creation, with the likes of Bell Bay Aluminium, Liberty and Nyrstar setting up here to take advantage of our reliable, cheap and plentiful power.
However, in recent years with the advent of the National Electricity Market, Basslink and the growth of de-carbonisation of Australia’s energy grid, Hydro has drifted from its foundational principles.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will return Hydro to these foundational principles.
We will tear-up the Labor-Green Hydro Charter, and issue a new directive with Foundational Principles that firmly put Tasmanian prices and Tasmanian jobs first, ahead of exporting energy to Victoria.
This will ensure that the Hydro returns to its place as a key economic powerhouse for Tasmania, and once again works to ensure that Tasmanians pay the lowest possible prices for the electricity it generates.
We will achieve this by tearing up the Labor-Green Hydro Charter, and issuing a new Ministerial Charter that unequivocally reflects the return to these Tasmania First Foundational Principles.
Hydro’s Ministerial Charter
The Ministerial Charter details the Government’s strategic expectations of Hydro Tasmania. It drives the agenda of Hydro’s operations by setting the expectations of the Government.
The former Labor-Green Government signed off as Hydro’s principal purpose being to to “generate, trade and sell energy in the National Electricity Market” in December 2012.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will rewrite the Charter to ensure Hydro returns to its foundation principals that prioritises Tasmania and Tasmanians.
We will ensure that every decision that Hydro makes is based on delivering the lowest possible power prices for Tasmanians, and enabling economic growth and job creation in Tasmania.
Hydro’s current charter was implemented by the Labor-Green Government in 2012, and it states:
2.1 Principal Purpose:
The principal purpose of Hydro Tasmania is to efficiently generate, trade and sell electricity in the National Electricity Market.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will tear up this Charter and replace it with:
2.1 Principal Purpose:
The principal purpose of Hydro Tasmania is to provide the lowest possible power prices for Tasmanians; and to enable economic growth and job creation in Tasmania.
The Ministerial Charter will be further updated to reflect the priority of Hydro being responsible for energy security; and throughout to directly reference Hydro’s Foundational Principles.
Our Strong Plan to return the Hydro to its Foundational Principles lays the platform for the lowest possible power prices, economic growth and job creation for Tasmanians.