[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Lasbor Must Come Clean on Bell Bay Power Station Purchase Offer_K Booth MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

TAMAR VALLEY POWER STATION MAY BE STRANDED ASSET

Llewellyn Must Come Clean Over Details Of Government Offer And Exercise
Due Diligence Before Committing Public Money

Kim Booth MP
Greens Shadow Energy Spokesperson

Monday, 11 August 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Energy Minister, David
Llewellyn, to provide a straight answer about the Bartlett government
approving a government entity to submit an offer to buy the Tamar Valley
power station from Babcock and Brown.

Greens Shadow Energy Spokesperson and Member for Bass Kim Booth MP, said
that the secrecy surrounding the government's potential purchase of the
power station raised serious concerns, and that Labor could be embarking
on yet another energy blunder that could be avoided if the Minister
listened to advice and exercised restraint and due diligence before
recklessly committing more public funds to prop up the government's
failed energy strategy.

Mr Booth also emphasised that the Bartlett government has not ruled out
that Cabinet has approved the purchase of the Tamar Valley Power
Station, and that Minister Llewellyn has merely embarked on spin to
avoid a straight answer.

"Minister Llewellyn is prevaricating in an attempt to avoid the truth
that the government has now made an offer, possibly as a joint venture,
to purchase the partially constructed Tamar Valley Power Station," Mr
Booth said.

"The government sold Bell Bay power station off, against it's own advice
last year, and now, secretly, it has made an offer to buy it back
again."

"The Minister must now explain what has changed in the interim, and
address concerns whether the Tamar Valley Power Station is a stranded
asset or not and how it can now be worth purchasing following Labor's
bungle over the whole power station scenario."

"Labor has made a series of serious blunders with it's energy strategy
including Basslink and selling off Bell Bay in the first place."

"Had Labor acted on professional advice and retained and developed Bell
Bay, the public would now own a station that would soon be producing
around 400 megawatts of power that was compatible with the Tasmanian
Grid, whereas it now looks like buying back a half completed potential
lemon that may not be able to get a connection into the Tasmanian Grid
or possibly require down rating to half its output." 

"Minister Llewellyn must take expert advice regarding the suitability of
the now Babcock and Brown station before considering a purchase lest
they make another serious and expensive energy blunder," Mr Booth said.



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