Two years on the last imported coal is blended but only the administrators are making money at Griffin
It has been two years since the State Government announced that it would import 103,000 tonnes of coal from Newcastle in NSW to the WA coal mining hub of Collie to keep the lights on over the summer of 2022-23.
According to answers given to the Member for the South West Region and Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve Thomas in Parliament yesterday the last of that imported coal has been blended for use two years down the track.
“The importation of this coal from Newcastle has been an expensive disaster for the State Government who have been hiding the cost of tens of millions of dollars from taxpayers” Dr Thomas said.
“The Government plan was to import the coal to maintain supply over the 2022-23 summer, and two years later they have finally blended the last of it.
“The Government however refused to answer the question on whether they had actually burnt the last of it, so perhaps some imported NSW coal is blended in a pile but not yet burnt?
“And they also again refused to reveal the cost of this debacle.”
Dr Thomas said further questioning yesterday revealed that part of the massive Government taxpayer subsidy to Griffin coal was going to the companies set up as receivers.
“The Government has finally confirmed that taxpayer’s dollars are funding the ongoing cost of administration and receivership, which means that those companies are making millions out of the process from taxpayers.
“It has now been twenty months since the State Government started subsidising the operating losses of Griffin Coal with taxpayer’s money, and the bill has hit $124 million so far” Dr Thomas said.
“Taxpayers are also paying million more for consultants to give the Government advice it refuses to use.
“It has become obvious that the only people making money out of Griffin Coal are the receivers and administrators and consultants, and they are raking in millions from the public purse.
“It’s hard to imagine how this could be more embarrassing.”
