VK7HSE's RamblingsThis is a common practice in politics and local government of late to spend large amounts of money under the guise of consulting services or similar… The example from the article says…
Figures showed that during the six-month taskforce review, $730,000 was spent on the project team, $420,000 on consultants Capital Insight, $331,000 for the taskforce and $200,000 on a cost-benefit analysis report.
So are your taxpayers dollars being used wisely by the so called "Adults in Charge" politicians?
Oh this is hilarious! Tasmania is trying to become a Totalitarian State by attempting to ban smoking for all born from the year 2000 onwards. Clearly there's not been much thought go into such a pathetic idea, after all it's a personal choice and not a decision that should be made by government.
This has gone on for too long…
The Tasmanian Government has a responsibility to it's people to preserve the legal systems integrity, but with Tim Ellis still suspended on full pay there's little hope that anythings going to change for the better… :/
This has gone on for too long…
The Tasmanian Government has a responsibility to it's people to preserve the legal systems integrity, but with Tim Ellis still suspended on full pay there's little hope that anythings going to change for the better… :/
Greens call for pulp mill referendum and intend to move no confidence motion in Government
THE Greens have confirmed their intentions to move a no confidence motion in the Government today when they table legislation to remove doubt about the legal validity of the Tamar Valley Pulp Mill permit.
Greens leader Nick McKim said the party would also move an amendment to the pulp mill Bill so that it could not begin unless it received support at a referendum on the legislation, to be held in conjunction with the coming election.
"All Tasmanians deserve to have a say on this toxic and divisive legislation and that's why the Greens will move to give the Tasmanian people the chance to kill it off for once and for all," he said.
"While Labor and Liberal dance to the tune of a faceless corporation which is only interested in the bottom line, the Greens will stand up to give Tasmanians a chance to create our own future by rejecting this toxic legislation.
"This is about far more than just a toxic and divisive pulp mill.
"It is about whether we want to continue the transformation into a prosperous future based on the things that make Tasmania unique and different to the rest of the world or whether we want to lock ourselves into ongoing public subsidies of bulk, undifferentiated commodity exports that have held us back so badly in the past."
Parliament was recalled for a special sitting this week and the doubts removal Bill is expected to be debated late into the night to avoid extra sitting days.
Permits for the $2.3 billion pulp mill are being sold as part of the consolidation of failed timber company Gunns by receiver KordaMentha, which says six potential buyers are interested in the mill.
Premier Lara Giddings said the legislation was important to the viability of the pulp mill.
"It's unfortunate that here we have the Liberal and Labor parties standing side by side to ensure that we get the legislative framework right, that can allow a pulp mill to be built in this state," she said.
Liberal forestry spokesman Peter Gutwein said recalling Parliament was just another ploy by the Government.
"If Labor were serious about the doubts removal Bill, they would have brought it to Parliament last year when KordaMentha asked them to," he said.
"Labor want to create an image of distancing themselves from the Greens before the election so they can win just enough seats to get back into bed with them after the election."
A "no pulp mill" rally will be held today on Parliament Lawns at 12.30pm. Speakers will include gardening guru Peter Cundall, Nick McKim, Tasmanian Conservation Trust director Peter McGlone, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre secretary Ruth Langford and No Pulp Mill Alliance spokeswoman Lucy Langdon-Lane.
Sourced from The Mercury
So the moment has arrived! The Greens lose their portfolios and take their retaliation to push for a vote of no confidence should Labor push ahead with fast tracking amendments to the Tamar Valley Pulp Mill bill. So I wonder if this means that the proposed election date of March 15 may be earlier?
Hydro saved Tasmania from shocking electricity price hikes, says energy regulator
HYDRO saved Tasmania from shocking electricity price hikes in 2012-13, a report by the Australian Energy Regulator says.
The State of the Energy Market report found average Tasmanian electricity bills rose by 3 per cent because of the carbon tax, compared with a 12 per cent hit in the ACT.
AER chairman Andrew Reeves said Tasmania's high concentration of hydro power kept bills down.
"The average carbon pass-through-to-spot electricity prices during 2012-13 was broadly consistent in mainland regions at $17.70 per MWh but significantly lower in Tasmania at $10 per MWh," he said.
The carbon tax of $23 a tonne, introduced in July 2012, helped Hydro Tasmania to an operating profit of $238 million as it received higher prices without having to pay the tax.
In his annual report Tasmanian Auditor-General Mike Blake found the gas-powered Tamar Valley power station cost almost $17 million in carbon tax.
AER's report said the tax added 12 per cent to the average ACT power bill, followed by Queensland (9 per cent), Victoria (8 per cent), NSW (7 per cent) and South Australia (4 per cent).
The Coalition Government has said the repeal of the carbon tax would result in an average fall in bills of 9 per cent. But the AER report suggests the repeal would result in only a 3 per cent fall in Tasmania.
The Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator is believed to have decided yesterday on a new price determination from January 1.
Sourced from The Mercury
So all of the price rises over the last year have been to prop up Aurora more then create this so called buffer! As Tasmanian people are paying a carbon tax on hydro generated power but that same power when sold via Bass Link is carbon tax free! So who saved who? 😐
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Hydro deep in the red
THE State Government will examine Hydro Tasmania's debt level after it posted a $248 million loss last financial year, just days after talking up its operating profit.
Hydro was stung by taking on the Aurora Energy Tamar Valley power station, the acquisition of which wiped $335 million off its books in asset writedowns.
Hydro has debt levels of $866 million after the gas-powered station was transferred at a cost of $205 million from Aurora Energy to Hydro under government energy reforms.
The loss is distinct from last week's before tax operating profit of $238 million, which was mainly a result of record sales of carbon-free electricity across Basslink.
Chairman David Crean said the loss was largely as a result of taking on AETV and its associated debt as well as the revaluation of hydro generation assets.
"The Government has committed to reviewing our capital structure in 2013-14 to assess the sustainability of Hydro Tasmania's balance sheet following the transfer of debt from AETV," Dr Crean said.
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The likely abolition of the carbon tax exacerbated the writedowns of hydro power stations.
"In recent years the value of generation assets increased as a result of the introduction of a price on carbon," he said.
However, as a result of a range of factors, including a reduction in forecast energy and carbon prices, the value of generation assets was revised downward in 2013.
Liberal Energy spokesman Matthew Groom said it was a $330 million Government stuff-up and that the Government had tried to cover it up.
Deputy Premier Bryan Green said the revaluation of the Tamar Valley power station was a necessary adjustment under accounting standards to reflect the way it would be operated in future.
He said the loss did not affect Hydro Tasmania's cash position and that the station was an important asset.
The Aurora Energy Tamar Valley power station has barely operated since early July, generating just 3.34 gigawatt hours compared with an average of 34 GWh a week under Aurora.
But Hydro chief executive Steve Davy said operation would resume when the current high rainfall inflows to hydro storages and rivers stopped.
Sourced from The Mercury
So what's the real story here? Aurora makes a before tax profit, yet Hydro makes a loss. This clearly means that Hydro isn't a competitive player! Just goes to show that even if the government does eventually open up the retail market for the general consumer there's no guarantee that the retail costs will be lower if the local power generation company's can't even balance the books!
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Hydro Tasmania records historic before-tax profit of $238 million
ENERGY giant Hydro Tasmania has recorded the largest profit in its history.
The company is crediting increased revenue from renewable exports, the carbon price and increased exports across the Bass Strait for a $238 million before-tax profit for the 2012-2013 financial year.
The result will bring an expected return to the Tasmanian Government during the 2013-2014 year of $263 million — including a dividend of $116 million.
During 2012-13, the business returned $125 million, including a dividend of $51 million.
Hydro Tasmania chair David Crean said Hydro Tasmania expected to return more than $450 million to the state in the next two years.
"This was a year in which the true value of the state's 100-year investment in renewable energy was finally realised," Dr Crean said.
"The performance is also notable for the increased proportion of our revenue and profit which comes from the mainland.
"At the same time we continue to be a major purchaser of Tasmanian goods and services with almost $125 million spent locally during the year." Deputy Premier Bryan Green said today record returns from the Hydro to Tasmanian taxpayers demonstrated the importance of keeping the business in public hands.
"This shows the enormous value of Hydro Tasmania and the dividends it pays helps ensure the Government is able to invest in core services like hospitals, schools and police," Mr Green said.
"That is why we have decided not to sell or break up Hydro Tasmania or privatise our network of poles and wires that deliver electricity to homes and businesses around the state."
Key results
OPERATING profit before fair value movement and tax: $238 million
OPERATING cash flow : $262 million
CAPITAL works on hydro asset program : $58 million
TOTAL group revenue : $1578 million
RETURNS to government 2012/13 $125 million
EXPECTED returns to government 2013-14: $263 million
Sourced from The Mercury
Is it any wonder why when the topic of power price gets a mention most people just see red! This latest figure clearly shows that the Tasmanian Government is gouging as much money possible before the electricity market becomes open to commercial competition (if that still goes ahead) Tasmanians have been feeling the pinch for too long when it comes to electricity costs and this report simply rubs salt into those wounds.
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Hydro Tasmania records historic before-tax profit of $238 million
ENERGY giant Hydro Tasmania has recorded the largest profit in its history.
The company is crediting increased revenue from renewable exports, the carbon price and increased exports across the Bass Strait for a $238 million before-tax profit for the 2012-2013 financial year.
The result will bring an expected return to the Tasmanian Government during the 2013-2014 year of $263 million — including a dividend of $116 million.
During 2012-13, the business returned $125 million, including a dividend of $51 million.
Hydro Tasmania chair David Crean said Hydro Tasmania expected to return more than $450 million to the state in the next two years.
"This was a year in which the true value of the state's 100-year investment in renewable energy was finally realised," Dr Crean said.
"The performance is also notable for the increased proportion of our revenue and profit which comes from the mainland.
"At the same time we continue to be a major purchaser of Tasmanian goods and services with almost $125 million spent locally during the year." Deputy Premier Bryan Green said today record returns from the Hydro to Tasmanian taxpayers demonstrated the importance of keeping the business in public hands.
"This shows the enormous value of Hydro Tasmania and the dividends it pays helps ensure the Government is able to invest in core services like hospitals, schools and police," Mr Green said.
"That is why we have decided not to sell or break up Hydro Tasmania or privatise our network of poles and wires that deliver electricity to homes and businesses around the state."
Key results
OPERATING profit before fair value movement and tax: $238 million
OPERATING cash flow : $262 million
CAPITAL works on hydro asset program : $58 million
TOTAL group revenue : $1578 million
RETURNS to government 2012/13 $125 million
EXPECTED returns to government 2013-14: $263 million
Sourced from The Mercury
Is it any wonder why when the topic of power price gets a mention most people just see red! This latest figure clearly shows that the Tasmanian Government is gouging as much money possible before the electricity market becomes open to commercial competition (if that still goes ahead) Tasmanians have been feeling the pinch for too long when it comes to electricity costs and this report simply rubs salt into those wounds.
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