Energy Minister Nick Duigan has been forced to admit that despite all its bluff and bluster, the Tasmanian Liberal Government has so far failed to put a formal support package to the Federal Government regarding Bell Bay Aluminium.

Minister Duigan let the cat out of the bag when he said he didn’t care which “bucket of money” funding for the smelter came from.

Perhaps he should tell that to Premier Rockliff and Minister Ellis who have been fixated on using the Green Aluminium Production Credit Scheme as a distraction from their failure to secure a power deal.

The Liberals’ politics would be more believable if they weren’t on record at least five times last year stating that the Federal Labor Government hadn’t confirmed Bell Bay Aluminium’s eligibility for the Scheme.

If they didn’t know it was going to be included, what else were they doing in the background to protect Tasmanian jobs and the economy?

The answer is nothing.

The situation at Bell Bay is critical, and it would be catastrophic if another major industrial fell over.

The Federal Government has a role to play, but Tasmania has to act first. That means securing a power deal with Bell Bay Aluminium and taking a clear ask to Canberra.