Labor plans to withdraw Tasmania from Marinus Link equity if it wins government at 2025 state election

Opposition Leader Dean Winter has announced that he will make a momentous call on the Marinus Link project if Labor wins government at the 2025 state election. WHAT HE’S PROPOSING>>>

Marinus Link route from space.

A Labor government would transfer Tasmania’s stake in the proposed Marinus Link project to the Victorian and federal governments, opposition leader Dean Winter says.

Marinus Link is a proposed 1500MW electricity and data interconnector cable between North West Tasmania and the Latrobe Valley in Victoria.

The $5bn project is 49 per cent owned by the Australian government 33.3 per cent by the Victorian government and 17.7 per cent by the Tasmanian government.

It is currently in design and approvals phase with environmental assessments, community engagement and procurement underway.

Marinus Link route through Bass Strait.

Mr Winter said mainland states were hungry for access to Tasmania’s clean, green energy, and it as mainland states who should pay for it.

“A Labor government will make the mainland pay for Marinus by transferring Tasmania’s stake in the project to the Victorian and Australian Governments,” he said.

“This will save $200m right now and help get the project moving after 11 years of inertia from the Tasmanian Liberal government.

Mr Winter said Labor supported the projects, but said Tasmania should not be required to contribute to its funding.

“Tasmanian Labor supports Marinus because it is the key to unlocking $25bn worth of renewable energy investment in the state, and it will create thousands upon thousands of safe, secure, well-paid jobs for Tasmanians,” he said.

“But Marinus won’t just be good for Tasmania — it is essential for Australia’s energy future. “This is a national project, and it’s only fair that the mainland pays for it.”

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA- NewsWire Photos- JUNE 25, 2025. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, was in Launceston today with the Leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party, Dean Winter and Member for Bass Jess Teesdale. They visited an early learning centre where they announced an election commitment to include day care in the development of every new school in the state. Picture: Patrick Gee/NewsWire

The state budget was under too much pressure without taking on further debt, Mr Winter said.

“Transferring Tasmania’s share to the mainland will put the state’s long-term interests first. It will mean less debt for Tasmanians and more jobs, sooner.

“It will save Tasmania hundreds of millions in debt that would otherwise be added to the credit card, and it will kickstart a renewable energy boom in the North and North-West.

“The Liberals have been promising to build a second Bass Strait interconnector for more than a decade.

“They’ve spent more than $100m and delivered nothing.”

Marinus Links claims the project will help to lower electricity prices, leading to a reduction in the wholesale energy portion of customer power bills of up to $165 on average every year for Tasmanians and up to $78 on average every year for Victorians, with a total net benefit exceeding $12bn.

Originally published as Labor plans to withdraw Tasmania from Marinus Link equity if it wins government at 2025 state election