The State Opposition will move to establish a Select Committee on Hydrogen Power, after the Malinauskas Government’s continued secrecy around the issue.
The Government has consistently refused to answer direct questions about the status of the Premier’s vanity project this week, or how it will do anything to provide hip pocket relief for householders struggling with their power bills.
Leader of the Opposition, Vincent Tarzia, said almost everything to do with the Hydrogen Project so far has been conducted behind closed doors and South Australians deserve to know how the Government plans to implement its only energy policy.
The Select Committee will focus on the following key themes:
• The increasing cost of electrolyser technology required for hydrogen power
• Why other jurisdictions and major global organisations are scrapping their hydrogen plans
• What are other alternative low emissions energy sources that could be used to support heavy industry
• What is the best use of Hydrogen, if any, at this stage of its development
• What is the full cost and activities undertaken by the Office for Hydrogen Power SA
“The Malinauskas Government went to the last election, promising what appears to have become a Hydrogen hoax that they’ve admitted will do nothing to reduce household power bills,” Mr Tarzia said.
“Yet, this week, the Government has skirted around questions about whether this fantasy would ever become a reality or how it would help taxpayers with skyrocketing household bills.
“They refused to share any information about their secret taskforce which only holds meetings behind closed doors, their secret contracts and how much they’ve spent, or how this fantasy would become reality.
“The Liberal Party will be moving to establish a Select Committee of Parliament to bring all of these issues to light so South Australians can be assured that their money is being spent on projects that will have a real impact on their quality of life.”
“We call on the Malinauskas Government to stop wasting money on fanciful vanity projects like it’s elaborate Hydrogen hoax and invest this capital into practical policies that will reduce power prices.”
