Peter Dutton's recent announcement that he would rip $7 billion from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, including funding for the $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart program, will cause huge damage to the economy in north west Tasmania.

HIF's e-fuels plant—which will create 200 permanent jobs near Burnie—​has been shortlisted for funding through the Hydrogen Headstart program.​

Peter Dutton's policy will kill this exciting project and 200 ongoing jobs for the north west.

This comes on top of Peter Dutton's plan to cancel the funding for Marinus, through his plans to axe the Rewiring the Nation Fund. This will mean no major new windfarms are built in Tasmania, will see Tasmania's economy continue to suffer due to a lack of power, and will cost thousands more jobs.

With his federal leader set to land in Tasmania today, Jeremy Rockliff needs to tell him clearly that Tasmania won't stand for his job-destroying cuts. His fellow Braddon MPs Felix Ellis and Roger Jaensch should do the same, as should Federal MHR Gavin Pearce.

Nothing is getting done under Jeremy Rockliff's minority government. Now more than ever we need to be backing projects that will create jobs and support Tasmania's economic future - not cutting their funding.

Janie Finlay MP
Shadow Minister for Energy & Renewables