Ms BURNET question to MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, Mr ROCKLIFF
Congratulations on your new portfolio, Mr Rockliff.
Can you confirm how TasPorts arrived at a $500 million funding request for the Hobart Wharf upgrades for the Antarctic vessel, Nuyina? Will you release the funding submission as a way to help resolve the obvious stand‑off between state and federal government and, if not, why not? How will you make delivering this important piece of infrastructure – and the Greens are interested in good infrastructure projects – your priority over a $1‑billion stadium?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank Ms Burnet for the question. I go back to the very constructive conversation I had with the minister, Ms Plibersek, a number of months ago about this particular matter where we agreed to work together and have our officials work together for what is critical infrastructure. I agree with you. Ms Plibersek and I do not agree on other matters concerning aquaculture, MMG, Robbins Island and a few other things, but we agree to work together on this.
I am advised that the commercial negotiation is ongoing. I expect a resolution to this very soon. The Hobart port provides crucial gateway infrastructure for the success of Tasmania being the Antarctic Gateway and upgrading these facilities is a priority. TasPorts and the Australian Government are in the midst of negotiating a reasonable shared cost arrangement for wharf 6 and adjacent portside infrastructure.
As you would appreciate, TasPorts will always ensure they secure the best possible deal for Tasmanians when negotiating with the federal government. They understand the critical nature of ensuring a commercial agreement being reached in the best interests of the Antarctic sector and Tasmanians. This is crucial infrastructure. I appreciate your interest in this and I understand why you ask the question.
Negotiations are ongoing. I am expecting a resolution soon. I understand that negotiations are positive. That is my expectation. My expectation is that TasPorts, as a state-owned company, should secure the best deal for Tasmania. It should also consider the big picture of Tasmania’s best interests in those negotiations, clearly understanding the benefit that the Antarctic Gateway provides to Tasmania and the strategic advantage it provides.
I also commend the engagement of Richard Fader, who wrote a very good editorial in the Mercury newspaper a few weeks ago. I have travelled with that organisation to the Korean Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) and the Japanese National Institute of Polar Research. These are critical, international partnerships for this strategic infrastructure. The research is so compelling about the warming of the waters and polar ice – strong and powerful messages ‑ which we can play a role in.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for answering the question has expired.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Ms BURNET – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Ms BURNET – Part of the question was: how do you make delivering this important piece of infrastructure a priority over your $1 billion stadium? I did not get a clear answer about that.
The SPEAKER – That is a part of the question that the Premier can choose to address.
Mr ROCKLIFF – What this Budget will demonstrate is a $5.1 billion investment in infrastructure across the forward Estimates.
Ms Burnet – That infrastructure?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Whether that be infrastructure in roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, new ambulance stations – which we all support. I got a very clear message from your media statement the other day, Dr Woodruff, that you do not support upgrading our schools and classrooms. You do not support upgrading our hospitals. You do not support better roads.
Dr Woodruff – That is utterly misleading.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I got that clear impression, I must say.
Ms Burnet, our view of the stadium and that once‑off investment of $375 million is clear. That is our investment. Our priority is also our wharf, school and hospital upgrades.
