Mr BAYLEY question to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCES, Mr ABETZ
Your government has a policy to support a cable car up kunanyi/Mount Wellington and the construction of a large, privately owned commercial centre on the summit. Your predecessor set up a specific section in the Department of State Growth to help its progress and pass facilitation legislation to help the proponents apply for assessment. That assessment was comprehensively rejected and the proponents’ appeal failed because the independent tribunal determined the negative impacts on special values were unacceptable.
In last year’s State of the State address, the Premier pledged a pathway for the cable car, and the member for Clark tweeted a cute cable car emoji when you announced an internal review in May after complete silence during the election campaign. The review’s terms of reference are now out and an internal committee of department heads has been announced.
How can you seriously expect anyone to believe that this review is anything other than a Trojan horse to undermine the Wellington Park Trust and existing protections, and finally deliver a cable car for your mates?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I am not sure that the word ‘cute’ and the member for Clark, Mr Behrakis, go together in the same sentence, but you have done it, member for Clark. Good luck with that.
The simple fact is the government has a policy in relation to the cable car. That is well known. However, what we have done is gone back to basics to ask what a total plan for the Wellington precinct might be; some 18,000 hectares where you have land owned by the Crown, Glenorchy and Hobart city councils, a water board and private owners. We still do not have, with a Wellington Trust and other entities involved, a proper fire management plan. We do not have proper access up the mountain.
Everybody agrees that the road up the mountain is suboptimal. How do we deal with that? How do we get access for people up to the pinnacle of the Wellington precinct?
Dr Woodruff – They have their review. They are doing that work already.
The SPEAKER – Order, Leader of the Greens.
Mr ABETZ – The Wellington precinct is the most visited natural attraction in Tasmania. It beats Cradle Mountain and Freycinet by over 100,000. It is the most visited place in Tasmania. Surely, it deserves better for the people of Tasmania and tourists, and let us see what possibilities and eventualities this review throws up.
To make derogatory comments about the review is a terrible reflection on Tasmanian public servants who have been charged with this exercise.
Dr Woodruff – You drew it up.
Mr Bayley – It is not independent.
The SPEAKER – Thank you, Leader and Deputy Leader of the Greens.
Mr ABETZ – It is a terrible reflection on Tasmanian public servants that you do not trust them to undertake an independent review.
Mr Bayley – They are your public servants, minister.
Mr ABETZ – No, they are the Tasmanian people’s public servants. Trying to politicise the public service as you just have, member for Clark, is a terrible reflection on your mindset and the way that you would do business should you ever be given the levers of government again.
The people of Tasmania can be assured that this review of Mt Wellington is progressing well. What we have is now the terms of reference, a discussion paper and, hopefully, by about mid‑next year, we will get the full review.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Mr BAYLEY – A supplementary question, Speaker.
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Mr BAYLEY – The minister just referenced a discussion paper. I am not aware that has been released. Can you confirm that there is a discussion paper?
Mr Ellis – That is another question.
Mr Bayley – It flows from the question.
The SPEAKER – Thank you, Mr Ellis. Supplementary questions are allowed if the original question has yet to be addressed or information has come in the answer that is subject to the original question. As such, the material introduced by the Leader of Government Business is from the answer, so I ask the minister to address that.
Mr ABETZ – I am more than happy to oblige. The terms of reference have just been released. That will be followed by a discussion paper, which I am anticipating being released in about October of this year.
