An energy company has expressed interest in the potential purchase of state-owned Aurora Energy and Momentum Energy, according to Labor.
The rumoured deal comes as the government considers selling off state-owned businesses, with all except Hydro Tasmania said to be up for sale.
Opposition leader Dean Winter questioned Premier Jeremy Rockliff in Parliament this week about the proposed sale, asking whether any retailers had made “secret” submissions during a recent consultation process.
“Can you confirm whether either or both of those submissions are from private sector companies expressing interest in purchasing Tasmanian energy assets?” Winter asked.
Premier Rockliff said the two submissions in question “were marked as confidential” and clarified that they “were not from energy businesses or organisations”.
“We’ve put asset sales on the table, in my view, courageously … for public discussion,” he said. “And why wouldn’t we? But I would welcome interest. That’s what we want. We want interest.”
Former minister Michael Ferguson later stated that Aurora “has been considered for divestment” for the 11 years he has been in Parliament.
“It has been in the publicly available documents of Aurora Corporation,” he said.
“A simple search identified the member statement of expectations, signed by me and the Minister for Energy and Renewables, Mr Duigan last year, said that it needed to maintain flexibility for the potential future divestment of the business.”
“What are you people talking about? It has been prepared for the sale this entire time.”
