Ms BADGER question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Recently, millions have been invested into reviving the Hastings Caves visitor experience, and in the last budget $7.8 million was allocated to making Mount Field a year‑round destination. No further explanation of the specifics of that investment were provided. We now understand that funding is going toward the renewal of the park’s public government huts.
Given your record of privatising our national parks, there is deep concern that the Mount Field huts and Hastings Caves may be leased out to a private commercial operator after millions of public funds have been spent on them. Premier, will you today rule out handing over these beloved publicly‑owned assets, inside protected areas, to private commercial operators?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for your question. I will need to seek further detail of the question. Of course, at face value you’ve asked me to rule out, but I won’t. I will need to see and seek further information. At face value, I don’t see any massive issue here in terms of a private operator operating efficiently to ensure greater accessibility into the wonderful assets that Tasmania has.
Dr Woodruff – Why can’t we do that?
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order, you’ve asked a question, I ask that the Premier be heard in silence. You can ask a supplementary.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I am not philosophically challenged by your question at all, which is why I’m not ruling it out.
Members interjecting.
Dr Broad – He believes in privatisation.
The SPEAKER – Order, Dr Broad. The honourable Premier has the call. He’s already indicated he’s going to take the answer on notice.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Thank you, honourable Speaker. Honourable member for Franklin, Mr Winter, you’re in no position to talk about positions of privatisation.
Mr Winter – What’s your position today, mate?
Mr ROCKLIFF – We know your position, honourable member Dean Winter.
Ms Finlay – Where do you stand?
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Alright, okay. Can I simply say that I won’t be ruling it out, Ms Badger. I accept your view. I happen to believe that we need to encourage entrepreneurship and our tourism sector and our hospitality sector –
Ms Finlay – Privatisation back on the agenda.
The SPEAKER – Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you can ask a question soon.
Mr ROCKLIFF – so many more people from around the globe can experience the wonderful natural assets that Tasmania has.
Ms BADGER – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Ms BADGER – The Premier will happily provide you with more information on that. What you can rule out is that you will not allow private operators to have those assets leased out outside of the EOI process.
The SPEAKER – The EOI process wasn’t mentioned in your original question.
Ms BADGER – I forgot the ruling; it was worth a try.
Members interjecting.
