Tasmania’s Government Business Enterprises are supposed to work in the best interests of all Tasmanians. The Greens agree a review of the structure, governance, functioning and purpose of GBEs and State-owned companies (SOCs) is long overdue. However, this needs to be through a comprehensive independent review process.
The last review of corporate governance of GBEs and SOCs was 16 years ago. We have recently seen the dysfunction at TT-Line and TasPorts, and their broken relationship with each other and government that is costing Tasmanians dearly.
We also know other GBEs, such as Forestry Tasmania and TasRacing, are secretive, loss-making and provide no public benefit. Hydro Tasmania and TasNetworks also need far greater financial transparency and accountability over their investment decisions worth billions of dollars.
It is essential our GBEs and State-owned companies are working efficiently, collaboratively and effectively in the interests of the Tasmanian community. Tasmanians should be able to trust the management and oversight protocols that govern these services delivered by GBEs.
We can’t remove the Westminster system that holds the minister ultimately responsible for any failures in their portfolios.
The Greens’ call on the government to instigate an independent review of the purpose, structure, governance, functioning, accountability and transparency of Tasmania’s GBEs and SOCs.
