The Rockliff government’s announcement of $200,000 per kilometre in compensation for rural landowners affected by the Marinus Link north west transmission line upgrades leaves affected public housing tenants out and ignores the impacts on intact forests and the wildlife that rely on them.

“Rather than utilise existing transmission line easements from Burnie to Hampshire, Tas Networks has opted to push their lines west to East Cam, smashing through intact forests that Tas Network’s own data concedes contain eagle nests and Tasmanian Devil habitat,” said Scott Jordan, Bob Brown Foundation Campaigner.

100 homes sit within 300 metres of the existing easement from Burnie to Hampshire, while 502 current and former public housing homes sit in the same radius of the Rockliff government’s chosen route.

“The Rockliff government’s values are writ large. Don’t upset the farmers and pay them off if you do. But public housing tenants are worth nothing, and wildlife don’t warrant a second thought.”

“Every taxpayer dollar spent in compensation to farmers is to benefit foreign-owned energy companies, who should be paying the price. Premier Rockliff is billing Tasmanians millions of dollars for these transmission lines,” concluded Scott Jordan.