Sink Marinus Link

A gateway to environmental destruction

The problem

What is Marinus Link and why does it matter?

Marinus Link is a proposed undersea and overland electricity cable connecting Tasmania to mainland Australia. Governments promote it as a climate solution. Its real function is to enable the rollout of multinational, overseas-owned windfarms linked by transmission towers stretching from Circular Head in the far northwest to Eddystone Point in the northeast.

These developments will destroy native forests, farmlands, coastlines and the habitats of Tasmanian Devils, migratory shorebirds and other threatened species. They will compromise the outstanding universal values of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Enables speculative energy exports

Industrialises wildness

Depends on taxpayer subsidies

"Climate and biodiversity are two sides of the same coin. We cannot destroy one in the name of the other,"

Christine Milne, Bob Brown Foundation patron

Environmental Risks

Forests, wildlife, and communities in the path of destruction

Four major projects are enabled or required by Marinus Link with each one a direct threat to Tasmania’s natural heritage.

Robbins Island Wind Farm

Tasmania's last healthy devils and endangered birds at risk

Robbins Island to Hampshire Transmission Line

115km scar through native forest and reserves

Whaleback Ridge Wind Farm

427 turbines in Takayna

North West Transmission Development

New lines through intact native forest

The proposed Robbins Island project is a bird killer. I am in favour of wind farms, but everything has its limits. One-third of Australia’s birds will be extinct this century — and migratory birds foremost.

Bob Brown – Conservationist

Independent analysis

A landmark report exposes the economic case has collapsed

An independent report by Professor Bruce Mountain of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre, commissioned by Bob Brown Foundation, concludes that the economic case for Marinus Link and Tasmania’s long-promoted Battery of the Nation vision has largely collapsed.

Tasmania lacks significant surplus energy to export. Mainland battery storage has overtaken the need for Tasmanian hydro. The project would increase electricity network costs while delivering questionable benefits to Tasmanians.

0 %

Rise in Tasmanian transmission charges by 2030

$ 0 m

Estimated taxpayer cost of concessional finance

< 0 %

Of the time Tasmania's surplus exceeds Basslink capacity

Myth-busting Marinus

Five claims the government can't back up

Myth 1

Marinus will lower power prices

Reality

Network charges will rise 140% in Tasmania and 90% in Victoria. The $900M in concessional government finance will not cover the increased costs to consumers.

Myth 2

Marinus will allow Tasmania to export surplus energy

Reality

Tasmania's generated surplus only exceeds Basslink's capacity less than 1% of the time. Hydro generation is expected to fall with climate change impacting rainfall.

Myth 3

Tasmania can profit from midday Victorian price slumps

Reality

The midday slump is driven by ageing coal generation. When Yallourn closes in 2028 the price differential largely disappears, before Marinus would even be operational.

Myth 4

Marinus will power Battery of the Nation

Reality

Electrochemical batteries have overtaken pumped hydro on cost and efficiency. Projects in development have 23x more capacity. Battery of the Nation has dwindled to a single uncommitted proposal.

Myth 5

AEMO has assessed Marinus as economically viable

Reality

AEMO (Australian Energy Market Operator) used implausible assumptions, including offshore wind in Tasmania and gas with CCS in Victoria, to inflate the "no-Marinus" scenario cost. AEMO is also accountable to members including Hydro Tasmania and TasNetworks.

Government secrecy

Why won't Rockliff release the Marinus business case?

If the numbers stacked up, the Government would show them. Instead, Minister Duigan has admitted the business case was deliberately withheld, not just from the public but from the Commonwealth, to prevent scrutiny of Hydro Tasmania’s finances during negotiations.

This is misleading and deceptive conduct. This is not transparency. It is a government that has prioritised its own financial position over the public’s and the Commonwealth’s right to know whether a multi-billion dollar project stacks up.

Minister Duigan's admission

“We felt that the benefit of keeping that information private and not giving the Commonwealth the opportunity to look under the hood of Hydro was worth not putting that information in the public realm,” Mr Duigan said.

“We’re talking about millions upon millions of dollars year on year that we were able to secure in that last piece of those negotiations. And it was agreed that we wouldn’t jeopardise those negotiations by releasing information that might run counter to those aims.”

Minister Duigan

Minister for Energy and Renewables

Minister Duigan's admission

"We felt that the benefit of keeping that information private and not giving the Commonwealth the opportunity to look under the hood of Hydro was worth not putting that information in the public realm."

Minister Duigan

Minister for Energy and Renewables

Our campaign

What Bob Brown Foundation is doing to sink the link

BBF launched the Sink Marinus Link campaign to expose the project’s environmental and economic risks and mobilise Tasmanians to protect their future.

Former Greens leaders Bob Brown and Christine Milne have criticised Marinus as a white elephant, warning of runaway debt, higher power bills, and environmental ruin.

Independent economic analysis commissioned

BBF commissioned research by Professor Bruce Mountain showing Marinus to be economically unviable compared to mainland big-battery alternatives.

Governments called on to ditch Marinus

BBF continuously calls on state and federal governments to abandon the project, warning of industrialisation, biodiversity loss, and compromised wilderness values.

Robbins Island campaign launched

A national petition calling on Minister Watt to protect Robbins Island, critical habitat for disease-free Tasmanian Devils and migratory shorebirds.

2026 report exposes the full picture

The landmark 2026 update by Professor Mountain concludes the economic case for Marinus has largely collapsed, and secrecy surrounding the business case demands accountability.

Independent economic analysis commissioned

BBF commissioned research by Professor Bruce Mountain showing Marinus to be economically unviable compared to mainland big-battery alternatives.

Governments called on to ditch Marinus

BBF continuously calls on state and federal governments to abandon the project, warning of industrialisation, biodiversity loss, and compromised wilderness values.

Robbins Island campaign launched

A national petition calling on Minister Watt to protect Robbins Island — critical habitat for disease-free Tasmanian Devils and migratory shorebirds.

2026 report exposes the full picture

The landmark 2026 update by Professor Mountain concludes the economic case for Marinus has largely collapsed — and secrecy surrounding the business case demands accountability.

"From a promise to reduce power prices in Tasmania, we now know power prices will increase. From a promise of riches from energy trade with the mainland, we now know debt and financial burden will result. Governments and AEMO need to be held to account before Tasmanians are sleepwalked into yet another infrastructure debacle."

Christine Milne, Bob Brown Foundation patron

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