Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
You promised government investment in the stadium would be capped at $375 million. This morning it’s been confirmed the cost cap has now been raised by $500 million. Capital or borrowings, it’s money Tasmanians will fork out, yet you still won’t admit you’ve broken your promise. Still, you won’t apologise. If even now you can’t admit that you’ve breached this commitment, how can anyone trust you? Where is your integrity?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for the question. I thank the honourable member, Ms Johnston, for the question as well. Ms Johnston, listen and act on advice, thank you very much. That’s why we’re setting up extra government –
Dr WOODRUFF – Honourable speaker, I asked a question about the Premier’s integrity, and with respect to Ms Johnston, this is a question to you about your integrity.
The SPEAKER – Honourable Leader of the Greens, the Premier’s only 20 seconds into his contribution.
Dr Woodruff – But he is answering a different question.
The SPEAKER – Dr Woodruff, this is your first warning. The Premier is only just on his feet. I ask that you allow him to answer in silence, please.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. You seem to think that the vote will proceed to the positive for the stadium. I’m not taking that for granted. Can I say this ‑ the vitriol and the personal attacks have to stop when it comes to this. The vitriol no doubt will start, if it’s not already started, on those that have indicated their support upstairs, and that is shameful. What we need to do is be mature adults, accept the will of the upper House debate and vote, and unite around this project.
You have a contribution to make with this project, should it proceed, by the scrutiny that you will apply to ensure maximum value for money and what was committed to is actually delivered. Do that without the vitriol and the personal attacks, please, is my advice. When I compare comments that I made at the rally of 15,000 people the other day, where it was positive, thanked those that supported the project, compared to the personal attacks that were made in the anti-rally, they were quite stark.
Moving forward, surely, we can unite and make this project the best it can possibly be. I look forward to the project proceeding and the discussion in the upper House. I’m not taking anything for granted. I welcome the commitment of members that we’ve engaged with in the Legislative Council, and all those commitments will be realised.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – Honourable Speaker, a supplementary question?
The SPEAKER – A supplementary.
Dr WOODRUFF – On the Premier’s comments about vitriol and personal attacks, I will remind him about his statements in this House about Nicholas Gruen and the Tasmanian Planning Commission panel and how disgraceful his behaviour was. I asked a straight question, and the Premier did not answer it.
Premier, it is about your trust; people’s trust in you and your integrity. You take responsibility for your words. You have broken your promise to Tasmanians of $375 million. Will you take responsibility for that? Where is your integrity if you can’t even do that?
The SPEAKER – Honourable Premier.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I believe I’ve provided the answer to you, very clearly. We’ve always been upfront about the cost. We announced the $1.13 billion a number of months ago and we will see this project through.
