Former Liberal energy minister Matthew Groom has been appointed to the board of Marinus Link, drawing criticism from Labor and the Greens over his role during Tasmania’s 2016 energy crisis.
Energy and Renewables Minister Nick Duigan confirmed the appointment at the Energy Development Conference in Devonport this week.
Groom will serve as a director of Marinus Link Pty Ltd, the company building the undersea power cable between Tasmania and Victoria. Construction is due to start later this year.
Duigan said Groom’s experience would help deliver major energy infrastructure that supported jobs, investment and long-term economic growth.
“Importantly, his appointment ensures we have a Tasmanian at the table as Project Marinus moves into its construction phase,” Duigan said.
Groom was the Liberal member for Denison from 2010 to 2018 and served as energy minister from 2014 to 2017.
Before entering parliament, he worked as legal counsel at Hydro Tasmania and as general counsel at renewable energy company Roaring 40s. He is also a current non-executive director of TasRail.
Labor and the Greens have criticised the appointment, linking it to the 2016 energy crisis.
Deputy Labor leader and shadow energy and renewables minister Janie Finlay described the appointment as an “extraordinary decision”.
“Mr Groom was energy minister during Tasmania’s last major energy crisis, when Basslink failed, dam levels crashed to record lows, diesel generators were rushed in and Tasmanians were left exposed,” she said.
“Marinus Link needs strong, independent governance focused on delivering for Tasmanians – not another Liberal appointment for someone who was at the centre of the last energy debacle.”
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the Liberals had taken things to a “new nepo-level” with the announcement.
“The most notable part of Matthew Groom’s career was being the architect of Tasmania’s 2016 energy crisis,” she said.
“Under Mr Groom’s tenure, Tasmania’s hydro dams were run down in the midst of a drought and we had to arrange for diesel generators to be shipped in to mitigate his mismanagement.”
Duigan also thanked outgoing director Kevin Kehl, who has been with the project since its early days under TasNetworks.
