Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Last year, the Coordinator‑General wrote a stadium puff piece in which he presented what he said was his economic analysis done off the side of his desk. Today, the ABC have revealed this opinion piece, which your government has called independent, had input from Devils CMO, Kathryn McCann, and from the former government media office head and current Master Builders Association CEO, Jenna Cairney, who planned the media strategy and drafted the media release for the Coordinator‑General – so very independent.
Premier, do you think it’s appropriate that a senior public servant who’s funded by the taxpayer, bound by the State Service Code of Conduct to be apolitical, wrote and published an op‑ed, drafted and edited with the Devils and the Master Builders Association? Do you think it’s appropriate that the Coordinator‑General never disclosed their involvement, including when questioned by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)?
ANSWER
I thank the honourable member for your question and concur with many people that the Macquarie Point stadium is a huge opportunity for Tasmania in terms of jobs, in terms of investment and in terms of growth. Of course, we expect the Coordinator‑General, who is responsible for investment and delivering real economic outcomes and jobs for Tasmania, to support the Macquarie Point stadium. While you might not agree with the analysis of the stadium, because you have a very clear position and have had a very clear position for some time with respect to the stadia infrastructure, I don’t expect you to ever agree with anyone that works hard to secure future economic development for Tasmania.
Our government is focused on one thing: delivering investment and jobs for Tasmanians. The Office of the Coordinator‑General is a key part of how we get that done. The office is set up to bring and attract investment to Tasmania. That is a good thing. I would be staggered if the Coordinator‑General’s office did anything but providing economic opportunity for Tasmania.
Supplementary Question
Dr WOODRUFF – To the question, which the Premier didn’t address, about a senior public servant, the State Service Code of Conduct and what he claims was an independent piece. Can you please answer whether you think it’s appropriate that a person in those circumstances has written something which, by any standards, seemed to be political and presented as independent when it wasn’t. Do you think it’s appropriate that the Coordinator‑General didn’t disclose his involvement when asked to by PAC?
The SPEAKER – The honourable member’s time has expired.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Firstly, I would be staggered if the Coordinator‑General, in applying for the position of Coordinator‑General, didn’t want to attract investment to Tasmania. The enabling infrastructure of the stadia, of course, attracts investment. It attracts investment when it comes to hospitality venues, accommodation venues and other economic opportunities. You might not concur with the analysis or, indeed, the fact that the Coordinator‑General has a position when it comes to the analysis of –
Dr Woodruff – It’s a question of honesty. What do you think about what he said?
The SPEAKER – Honourable Leader of the Greens, you still have two more questions. I ask that the Premier be heard, please.
Mr ROCKLIFF – That is the answer to your question.
