Tasmanian Libs push for accelerated creation of energy panel inquiry
Tasmanian opposition leaders have been wondering why the government is taking too long in establishing the independent panel tasked to investigate the efficiency and effectiveness of the state's electricity industry.
The expert panel is also set to pinpoint the bases of Tasmania's expensive power costs and will scrutinise as well the financial status of the state-owned energy operators, with the state government pledging that a supporting legislative measure would be introduced just before the end of the year.
State opposition treasury spokesman Peter Gutwein said that the government appears to be taking its sweet time since until now the three independent experts poised to sit on the panel have yet to be named.
Mr Gutwein is puzzled why no appointment have been made so far and more so, even a draft of the promised legislation has yet to materialise until now.
However, State Treasurer Michael Aird gave his assurance to the parliament that efforts were being made to ensure that the panel would see realisation very soon.
Mr Aird said that the legislation would pave the way for the panel's creation would be introduced in due time as he added that the government is "already administratively trying to go through a list of people who would be appropriate to appoint."
He emphasised that the legislation would provide considerable range of powers to the investigating panel and "it is not that far away."
The State Parliament has allocated $1 million for the inquiry as the Greens MP Kim Booth had asserted that the legislation should be introduced within weeks, which should be in time for the legislative body's spring session.