A FEDERAL government directive banning the $10billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation from investing in any new wind power projects will cost Tasmanian jobs and strip investment from the state, the opposition claims. But the state government says it is confident wind energy investment will continue to flow into Tasmania, irrespective of the ban. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has instructed the ‘‘green bank’’ to stop investing in new wind farms, in a move being framed as an extraordinary attack on the wind industry. The corporation has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in wind projects to date, and was expected to spend billions more over the next five years. Franklin Labor MHR Julie Collins said the move was an assault on Tasmanian infrastructure and employment. ‘‘Tony Abbott’s ideological attack on wind power is putting millions of dollars of investment in the state at risk and will cost local jobs,’’ she said. ‘‘It seems the Abbott government is determined to kill off any further job creation from renewable energy in Tasmania.’’ Mr Abbott said the change stemmed from a new deal on the renewable energy target, with the end goal to abolish the corporation entirely. ‘‘But while it exists, we believe we should be investing in new and emerging technology – certainly not existing wind farms,’’ he said. A Tasmanian government spokesman said it remained strongly supportive of wind farm investment in the state. ‘‘None of Tasmania’s existing wind farms have required finance from the CEFC and we’re confident that commercially viable wind projects in Tasmania will continue to be able to access finance from investors,’’ he said. It is unclear what, if any, impact the Prime Minister’s directive may have on Launceston-based steel company Haywards. The company is considered an industry leader in wind farm construction and fabrication, having built and supplied wind farm infrastructure throughout Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia. Haywards could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
A FEDERAL government directive banning the $10billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation from investing in any new wind power projects will cost Tasmanian jobs and strip investment from the state, the opposition claims.
But the state government says it is confident wind energy investment will continue to flow into Tasmania, irrespective of the ban.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has instructed the ‘‘green bank’’ to stop investing in new wind farms, in a move being framed as an extraordinary attack on the wind industry.
The corporation has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in wind projects to date, and was expected to spend billions more over the next five years.
Franklin Labor MHR Julie Collins said the move was an assault on Tasmanian infrastructure and employment.
‘‘Tony Abbott’s ideological attack on wind power is putting millions of dollars of investment in the state at risk and will cost local jobs,’’ she said.
‘‘It seems the Abbott government is determined to kill off any further job creation from renewable energy in Tasmania.’’
Mr Abbott said the change stemmed from a new deal on the renewable energy target, with the end goal to abolish the corporation entirely.
‘‘But while it exists, we believe we should be investing in new and emerging technology – certainly not existing wind farms,’’ he said.
A Tasmanian government spokesman said it remained strongly supportive of wind farm investment in the state.
‘‘None of Tasmania’s existing wind farms have required finance from the CEFC and we’re confident that commercially viable wind projects in Tasmania will continue to be able to access finance from investors,’’ he said.
It is unclear what, if any, impact the Prime Minister’s directive may have on Launceston-based steel company Haywards.
The company is considered an industry leader in wind farm construction and fabrication, having built and supplied wind farm infrastructure throughout Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia.
Haywards could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
