In an extraordinary display in Parliament, Premier Rockliff has refused to disclose if developer Tipalea is a Liberal Party donor. This is despite the Liberal Government ramming through legislation to override independent decisionmaker and approve Tipalea’s shopping centre development.
Why wouldn’t the Premier tell Tasmanians if Tipalea is a Liberal donor? They deserve to know if this is a quid pro quo.
Just a day after the Stony Rise developer took out a full-page ad demanding the Rockliff Government to help them bypass planning laws, the Liberals jumped to their aid.
While it’s hardly new for the Liberals to do favours for their mates and donors, this piece of legislation takes it to the next level – bypassing all planning laws and directly approving a development. This precedent is a recipe for corruption.
At every turn, the Liberals are facilitating inappropriate development and weakening planning laws, from major projects legislation and flawed stadium assessment process to Development Assessment Panels – and the Stony Rise approval bill.
Special treatment, sweet deals and facilitating legislation for their corporate mates is business as usual for the Liberals in government.
By the Premier refusing to answer a simple question about donations from Tipalea, it’s hard to believe there hasn’t been one.
This is clean cut recipe for corruption. It sends the strongest signal yet – the Rockliff Government is for sale to any would-be developer.
Today it’s Tipalea and a supermarket complex Which mate and project will be next?
