During last year’s election Premier Rockliff stood beside Firmus and helped announce its new AI Factory Zone for Northern Tasmania.

Just weeks later, Firmus CEO Oliver Curtis gave a presentation describing Liberty Bell Bay and Bell Bay Aluminium as “end of life” smelters.

His presentation then identified their electricity as power that could become available for the new AI zone.

When asked about why Firmus’ plans to use Liberty Bell Bay and Bell Bay Aluminium’s power today, the Premier did nothing to ease concerns that the Government has been planning for these critical smelters to fall over, letting the hundreds of jobs and associated economic benefit go with them.

He couldn’t explain why Firmus had formed the view 11 months ago that this power might become available.

On the Liberals’ watch, Liberty Bell Bay has already collapsed – with energy central to its closure.

Bell Bay Aluminium is hanging by a thread, but it’s been revealed the Liberals haven’t put forward any support package to the Commonwealth Government yet, despite knowing a new power agreement has been needed for years.

Tasmania has publicly owned renewable energy that should give us an enormous advantage in manufacturing and industry, but after 13 years of Liberal waste that advantage is evaporating.