Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Minister for Energy

Wednesday 17th February 2010

Musselroe wind farm needs Federal changes

After months of denial from Energy Minister David Llewellyn and Premier David Bartlett that the Musselroe wind farm was in trouble, it was refreshing to hear Federal Labor Senator Kerry O’Brien say the Federal Government needed to address the issues that were preventing the Musselroe project going ahead.

Unlike his State Labor colleagues, Senator O’Brien was at least prepared to admit there was a problem that needed addressing.

What the Senator must now do is convince Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan that this problem must be fixed quickly so that wind farm developments can proceed.

Senator O’Brien indicated last night that the Federal Government was moving to ‘address the issue that has been prejudicial to the success of this project’ but the burning issue is when?

Wind farm development is dead in the water until the Rudd Government changes its policy. If the Rudd Government are convinced they can fix the problem, then they should say when so that companies such as Roaring 40’s can continue to invest in these projects knowing full well that the business case will stack up at a point in time.

I call on Senator O’Brien to commit to getting a guarantee from Kevin Rudd that this problem will be fixed and the timeframe in which this will occur so that the $400 million Musselroe development in Tasmania can proceed.