Ms BURNET question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Your government has completely mismanaged the replacement of the Spirits to the point that, as you said today, TT-Line has been referred to ASIC. It’s been costly decision after costly decision. Unlike the stadium, the ferries are vital for Tasmanians. The Gruen report on the stadium was clear: the project is already displaying the hallmarks of mismanagement.
Today, this House will be deciding on Tasmania’s biggest-ever infrastructure project. Your government has already sent TT-Line to the brink. Now, you look set to bankrupt the state. How can you persuade anyone ‑ particularly your biggest Spirits critics, the so-called ‘opposition’ ‑ that your government could competently manage the Mac Point stadium project?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank honourable member for her question. However, I don’t agree with the characterisation contained in the question of taking companies to the brink and the like. I have enormous confidence in the leadership of TT-Line to work through some significant matters. The ships are nearly here. The wharf is well under construction.
As I travelled to Hobart on the weekend, I travelled over the Bridgewater Bridge; an $800 million project delivered on time and within budget, as I understand it. We can be very proud of that, Dean, can’t we?
We can deliver this. You’ve seen the enormous amount of work when it’s come into the stadia infrastructure. It is going to bring enormous opportunity. It is to be built on an industrial wasteland, ripe for opportunity. This is not a pulp mill, that you were debating in about 2007 or 2008 or whenever the time was; this is an opportunity to create and enhance our visitor economy, and to build opportunity for young Tasmanians – I see them in the Gallery today. I don’t agree with your characterisation within your question. This project has been scrutinised to the nth degree, and will continue to be scrutinised, which will keep the government, our government, accountable to its delivery.
Ms BURNET – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Ms BURNET – Premier, you made those points that Spirits will be arriving, but they haven’t arrived, and it just symbolises all of the stuff-ups along the way with that project which your government has been responsible for. You also talk about the expenses with the stadium, and that is an intergenerational debt. Given your history, your government’s history, how on Earth can Tasmania’s MPs and MLCs believe you?
The SPEAKER – The member’s time has expired. I just want to remind members that you’ve only got 30 seconds. It’s not an opportunity for you to make a statement to the House, and 30 seconds does go by very fast. I encourage you, as I said a number of times, to use your supplementary to refer back to your original question or to the Premier’s answer, but it’s not a time to make a statement, so if the Premier has anything further to add to his original comment, because I appreciate the member didn’t really get to a question.
