Tasmanian Premier ‘backed into a corner' and fighting no-confidence motion
The premier claimed he will fight with his 'last breath' against the motion.
'Backed into a corner, he's defending himself reasonably well,' Mr Uhlmann told Sky News Australia.
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ABC News
10 minutes ago
- ABC News
Silence over Marinus Link deal defended, but it could cost Liberals government
The business case for Tasmania's biggest ever infrastructure project details significant power price increases for industrial businesses and warnings that the government may be exposed to "very significant" financial risk in the future. But it also says proceeding now "maximises the opportunities from the state's natural competitive advantages in renewable energy, improves energy security and increases economic growth". The state was signed up to Marinus Link on Thursday night by the Liberal government, which is governing in caretaker mode, and which promised — but failed — to release the business case beforehand. The project is a proposed multi-billion-dollar undersea cable connecting Tasmania and Victoria, designed to futureproof energy and communications needs on both sides of Bass Strait. Tasmanian Energy Minister Nick Duigan signed the deal on Thursday night and he and Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced it in Burnie as a summary of the whole-of-state business case was made public. A decade in the making with the federal and Victorian governments, and signed as crossbench MPs and the Labor opposition cried foul about secrecy, it can now be seen by the public. Mr Duigan said the silence was necessary during the negotiations to ensure the government did not "trade away Tasmania's advantage". Mr Rockliff said the deal that had been struck was "a bloody good deal for Tasmania". "We're not going to show our hand and give away Tasmania's best interests," he said. He said the state's portion of the investment was capped at $103 million, for 17.7 per cent of the project equity, which can be sold back to the federal government once the project is completed. Mr Duigan said the deal negotiated in recent weeks with the federal government included a $346 million GST-free grant to develop the north-west transmission lines that would feed power to the Marinus Link, which would deliver a "substantial benefit to customers". However, he could not detail how that would affect the average Tasmanian household energy bill. He did say the "typical household" would see an annual power price reduction of between $25 and $34, before the figures in the new deal were included. Mr Duigan could not put a number on how the new deal would affect household power bills, but he expected them to be "somewhat better" off. A 25-page executive summary was published by the Treasury department shortly before Mr Duigan and Mr Rockliff made their announcement. Mr Duigan said the full business case — which is about 400 pages long — was still being worked through by Treasury, which he said needed to redact certain information that was not Tasmania's to publish. The executive summary does detail how Marinus Link would affect electricity bills through the cost of building new transmission infrastructure, and wholesale energy costs. "Future government policy on the Tasmanian regulatory framework and customer rebates, together with decisions of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator, will be critical in determining the final electricity bill outcome for Tasmanian customers," the report reads. Although Mr Duigan has claimed lower power prices for households and small businesses, the report details "very large increases" for the state's major industrials — which include Bell Bay Aluminium, the Nyrstar zinc smelter and the Boyer paper mill. Together, the major industrials would see their prices rise about $20 million in the years beyond 2030 with construction of Marinus, compared with the past financial year. That is an increase of about 45 per cent on their combined spend of $42 million in 2024-25, and would come at a time "when there appears to be a range of pressures building on major industry nationwide". Mr Rockliff said the project would provide an extra $470 million to the state's bottom line each year, in the form of Hydro Tasmania's trade in electricity. He said this would allow for greater investment each year in the state's schools, hospitals and roads, and said it would create more than 2,000 jobs in the state. But the business case notes further costs and the possibility of significant risk if the project does not proceed as smoothly as is hoped. More than $100 million in equity contributions to the Marinus Link company after the final investment decision (FID) "may be required", which would need to be considered in this year's budget. And the governments involved are exposed to "increasing financial risks and potentially very significant additional equity calls" if environmental or planning approvals are not achieved. "The previously agreed sole underwriting of such risks by the Australian government fall away once notices-to-proceed are made to suppliers subsequent to a positive FID in the third quarter of 2025," the business case reads. It also notes that Hydro Tasmania would face "increased competition" in the renewable energy space in the future, which may affect its potential revenue opportunities. Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey welcomed the news the deal had been signed and said it would be "a pivotal moment" for the state. "Tasmania's energy generation isn't keeping up with demand. "Marinus Link will underpin new generation projects and help grow the economy and support businesses around the state that need more energy," Mr Bailey said. The Tasmanian end of the undersea cable will be in Burnie. The city's mayor, Teeny Brumby, said it was a "catalytic" moment. "It unlocks unprecedented economic, environmental and social benefits for our region," Councillor Brumby said. The announcement was also welcomed by Hydro Tasmania and the Marinus Link company, as well as by the state's telecommunications advocacy group, TasICT. However, the announcement also signalled the end of independent Braddon MP Craig Garland's potential support of a future Liberal government. Long outspoken against Marinus, Mr Garland said he now believed only Labor could deliver stable government for Tasmania. For his part, Labor leader Dean Winter said Tasmanians "won't have confidence" in Marinus until all relevant information is released, and said the Liberals had been "needlessly secretive". But Mr Rockliff said he would stand by Marinus, even if it cost him his job.
Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'Wake up call': Securty expert says Australians must take security more seriously following ASIO boss' espionage warning
Strategic Analysis Australia founder and Director Peter Jennings told Sky News host Steve Price that comments made by the boss of ASIO should be a wake-up call to all Australians on the threat foreign espionage poses. ASIO chief Mike Burgess at a conference in Adelaide revealed foreign espionage was costing the Australian economy $12.5 billion a year as he unveiled the inaugural cost of espionage report. Reacting on Sky News on Friday, Mr Jennings told host Steve Price that it was not surprising. 'This is industrial level espionage and intellectual property theft," he said. 'And of course it's being directed against Australia because we're a high technology country with very significant alliance relations with the United States and other developed economies, and it will be happening all the time.' Mr Jennings said that Australia needed to be taking steps to protect its military and economy from people who were looking to take advantage of the situation, adding that businesses needed to be aware of the risks they are facing. 'Mike Burgess touches on this in his speech as well, how naive Australians are to imagine that it couldn't possibly happen here or it wouldn't happen to my business,' he said. 'And Mike actually quotes Australian officials saying, oh, well, no one would be interested in going after my information. This is industrial level espionage and intellectual property theft' Mr Burgess on Thursday said "Many entities do not know their secrets have been stolen, or do not realise they've been stolen by espionage, or do not report the theft.' He also said that there were many countries that were committing this espionage. 'The obvious candidates are very active – I've previously named China, Russia and Iran – but many other countries are also targeting anyone and anything that could give them a strategic or tactical advantage, including sensitive but unclassified information.' Mr Burgess also said that he could not understand why some people were mentioning on social media that they carried a security clearance. "On just one professional networking site, the profiles of more than 35,000 Australians indicate they have access to sensitive and potentially classified information. Around 7,000 reference their work in the defence sector, including the specific project they are working on, the team they are working in, and the critical technologies they are working with," he said. "Close to 400 explicitly say they work on AUKUS, and the figure rises above 2,000 if you include broader references to 'submarines' and 'nuclear'.
Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'I know that my mother always wanted me to visit Australia': HRH Prince Leka II of Albania exclusively opens up about royal duties
My interview with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Leka II of Albania has been over a year in the works. It all began about 18 months ago, when the proclamation of Tasmanian-born Mary Donaldson as Queen of Denmark revived interest in her fairytale meet-cute with Prince Frederik in that Sydney pub all those years ago. Few journalists bothered to mention that decades earlier, another Aussie girl met a Crown Prince in Sydney. Their love story did not end in a proclamation ceremony or fireworks, but decades of exile and upheaval that saw them perpetually moving around the world. The couple had one son, who today serves as the head of the House of Zogu after finally being allowed to return to Albania. On the evening of our Zoom call, I half expect to hear word from the royal household that the call is off and the Crown Prince would need to reschedule or cancel altogether. But five minutes before the scheduled start of our interview, I receive a notification confirming the Crown Prince has already logged on and is in the virtual waiting room. 'I hope that the hour is not inconvenient for you,' he said. The sandy-haired Crown Prince, 43, is speaking from his bright and well-appointed home office inside the royal residence in Tirana. Our interview coincides with high season for tourism in Albania, which is currently one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in Europe. This year alone, thousands of Aussies will visit Albania as part of their European getaways for the first time, most likely unaware of the Crown Prince's family link to Australia. 'Five years ago before the pandemic, we had three million tourists and I think the Ministry of Culture foresees 11 million tourists this year,' Leka II said. 'Albania is a country which is in a transition. 'We're a country which has beautiful beaches - we share the Ionian sea with Greece - and we have the ancient history of all the empires, from the Romans, the Persians, and the Ottomans, to our own dynasties in history.' The history of the monarchy in Albania is a relatively short but tragic tale of a country caught in the crossroads of ideology - first fascism, then communism. Albania was officially proclaimed a monarchy in 1928, at which time Leka II's grandfather acceded to the throne as Zog I, King of the Albanians. In 1939, Zog I and his wife Queen Geraldine were forced into exile with their newborn son Leka I (Leka II's father) after Italy invaded the country and Benito Mussolini barred the King from returning to Albania. After the war, a communist regime was installed and Albania was largely sealed off to the outside world, leaving the royal family effectively stateless. Decades of harsh communist rule under dictator Enver Hoxha followed before the country transitioned to a democracy in 1991. In 2003, the Albanian Parliament passed a law recognising the royal family and granting them a special status, which enabled the family to come home without restoring them in an official capacity. 'It's the first step in giving certain amounts of recognition and allowing us to play a role within a society while being part of the diplomatic life of the society as well,' Leka II said. Today, the southern European country of about 2.7 million people is enjoying a major economic upswing and is eyeing accession into the EU in the coming years. The country now enjoys relative political stability and a building boom is currently transforming the face of Tirana. Of all the non-reigning monarchies in Europe, the Crown Prince has arguably carved out the most compelling role for a hereditary royal living in a modern republic. He enjoys limited recognition within Albania's present political structure and works as an informal roving ambassador for the country abroad. Just weeks ago, Leka II was made an honorary ambassador to the State of Louisiana by Republican Governor Jeff Landry. In 2016, the Albanian government even gave permission for the royal family to use the former Royal Palace – now the president's official residence - for Leka II's wedding to actress Elia Zaharia. The guest list featured a Madame Tussaud's-worthy selection of reigning and non-reigning royals from across Europe, including Queen Sofia of Spain and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. The royal couple divorced last year but continue to co-parent their daughter Princess Geraldine – the presumed heir to the Albanian throne. In recent years, some of the other royal properties have been returned to the family, including the impressive Royal Villa of Durrës in Albania's second largest city. The former summer residence sits atop a hill overlooking the Adriatic Sea but has fallen into ruin after decades of neglect and earthquakes in the area. Restoring the crumbling residences is an 'incredible challenge' for Leka II. So much so that he recently opted to sell the Royal Villa to a businessman who can properly fund the restoration. 'The new owner is a very, very successful businessman, and he's taking up the incredible challenge to rehabilitate, to rebuild the villa, which unfortunately due to the earthquakes and due to mismanagement and being destroyed, really needs that TLC,' he said. While Leka II credits his father Leka I for instilling in him a drive to serve the country, he was equally influenced by his 'very loving' mother Princess Susan. Leka II says he is 'very proud' of his Australian heritage and credits his late mother's Aussie roots for instilling in him both 'openness' and an uncanny ability to 'read the room'. Born Susan Barbara Cullen-Ward in Sydney, Leka II's mother came from a good eastern suburbs family before meeting the exiled Crown Prince of Albania at a dinner party in the mid-1970s. The couple wed in a small civil ceremony in Biarritz in 1975 and lived in exile in Spain, Zimbabwe and finally South Africa, where they welcomed Leka II in 1982. 'My mother was a fourth-generation Australian,' he said. 'I believe - and I'm not certain about this so maybe some verification could be made - that she was a descendent of Banjo Paterson.' Leka II says he hopes to visit Australia soon and reconnect with cousins and relatives from the Cullen and Ward families. 'My cousins are all pushing for me to come and visit hopefully next year,' he said. 'I know that my mother always wanted me to visit Australia.' Leka II was largely raised in exile in South Africa with his parents in what one 1980s feature by The Australian Women's Weekly gently described as 'reduced circumstances'. Growing up, nobody at school knew Leka II's true identity and he only got a sense of his royal lineage when interacting with the Albanian diaspora on holidays to Europe. I ask the Crown Prince whether his relatively normal upbringing was a blessing in some ways. After all, Prince Harry's memoir Spare was a pretty damning account about the pitfalls of growing up as a royal Prince in the media's glare. 'I had a very normal youth as a child, but at the same time, meeting the diaspora I felt the pressures of position,' he said. 'When we finally came back to Albania in 2002, I was really pushed into the deep end.' Sadly, Susan died in 2004 at age 63 from cancer, just two years after the royal family finally returned to Albania. His father Leka I died in 2012 and both are buried in the Mausoleum of the Albanian Royal Family. As Crown Prince, Leka II can be commended for restoring the royal family to prominence in the country through tireless work promoting Albania abroad. It is plausible that this goodwill could lead to a more official role for the family in the future. But Leka II says he is making great effort to ensure his daughter Geraldine, 4, does not grow up fretting over the future of the House of Zogu. 'She's fluent both in English and Albanian and she's a chatterbox in all senses,' he said. 'But it's important that she is given the best education and time will define her role, you can't force someone to become a monarch.'
