PREMIER Jeremy Rockliff used the winter parliamentary break to make a number of policy changes, which have been described as a “reset.”
This included abandoning the policy of forced local government mergers, announcing the introduction of Development Approval Panels (DAPs) in local government planning, drawing a “line in the sand” on the controversial Marinus electricity interconnector, announcing a new “Renewable Energy Dividend” electricity rebate, and undertaking a cabinet reshuffle which saw him give up Health in favour of State Development.
Kicking off the “reset” at the Committee for Economic Development (CEDA) on July 20, Mr Rockliff said that his Government had been “knocked of course by events” and pledged to take action to return to what he called his Government’s “long-term plan”.
Despite heavy speculation to the contrary, Mr Rockliff ruled out calling an early election and instead challenged the Liberal defectors (Lara Alexander and John Tucker) to provide stability and certainty in the Parliament, noting that they had been elected “as Liberals”, not independents.
The announcement of the introduction of new DAPs in the days following the speech came as a surprise and was welcomed by the developer sector while being opposed by local government.
Under this policy, either proponents or councils will have the option of referring the planning process for certain developments ($5-million-plus for regional Tasmania, $10-million-plus for the cities) to an independent panel, appointed by the Planning Commission, for assessment.
The Premier said that this policy would “take the politics” out of planning and support urgently needed new housing and apartments being built.
On energy, the Premier revealed that the cost of the controversial Marinus interconnector has significantly blown out, and “drew a line in the sand” about the project, saying that while it was an important project for Tasmania “at the right price…the right price does not mean any price”.
Despite only signing an agreement late last year committing the Tasmanian Government to a share of 20 per cent of the cost (along with the Federal Government and Victoria), Mr Rockliff said that the Tasmanian Government had reopened negotiations with the Federal Government over the cost of the interconnector.
Subsequently, at a speech to the Liberal Party State Council on August 5, the Premier announced a new policy of what he called a “Renewable Energy Dividend”.
Under this policy, 50 per cent of all Hydro profits (about $100 million in a year) will be returned to Tasmanian households through electricity bill rebates.
Mr Rockliff said that for example, if the Hydro made a profit of $160 million, that would mean a $100 saving to Tasmanian households that year. He said that that Hydro had made a profit above $100 million in five of the past 10 years.
Under this policy, Mr Rockliff said that “when Hydro makes money, Tasmanians save money.”
The Premier also used his speech to the Liberal Party State Council to affirm his Liberal credentials in the face of questions about the direction of the Government, and internal party tensions, telling Liberal faithful that: “As the last Liberal Government standing in this country, and myself as the last Liberal Premier, I understand what an extraordinary responsibility I have – that we as a Government have, that we all in this room have – as the standard-bearers of Liberals in this nation.”
At the Liberal Council, Michael McKenna was elected Liberal state president, defeating Brendan Blomeley.
