It is very important that Tasmanians remain calm through this very difficult period. This is not a time for political game playing or misinformation.
It’s natural for people to become increasingly anxious as the weeks go on, and dam levels go down. That’s a natural response to an extreme event that is unfolding. But people can have confidence that we have a plan in place to ensure our energy needs continue to be met.
We are dealing with an extreme natural weather event, which is by its very nature unfolding slowly – and will take time to resolve.
As with any extreme natural weather event, it is important that we stick to the facts, remain calm, and work together. All leaders in our community have a responsibility to encourage this approach.
People can have confidence that the Government, together with Hydro Tasmania and the energy businesses, have a plan in place to ensure our energy requirements can continue to be met.
We have put very significant contingencies in place to ensure that Tasmanian businesses and households don’t have to.
Of course, as in any extreme natural event, people can and will make their own judgements, but my very clear message is that the Government has a Plan in place to ensure that the energy requirements of the state continue to be met.
This is a test of our State’s resilience. We have shown our capacity for great resilience in responding to difficult events in the past and I am confident we will do so again. We need to remain calm and work together but we will get through it.