Dr WOODRUFF – Why do you not put the work into the public employees and the organisation so that they can do the job, which you apparently think they are not doing properly, that you think the private sector is better at doing? Why don’t you do that?
Mr ROCKLIFF – This is about protecting vulnerable Tasmanians and improving the service to vulnerable Tasmanians.
Dr WOODRUFF – Give me an example around Australia where it has been better for vulnerable people for the private sector to come in, profit-making, and look after their interests, especially vulnerable people. Give me an example of where it is better?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Some services might be closer –
CHAIR – Order.
Dr WOODRUFF – Give me an example of why you think this will be better? You can’t.
Mr ROCKLIFF – There has been a number of reports done. The economic regulator’s report recommended it, was it in February 2024? Have you read the report?
Dr WOODRUFF – Are you doing the job as Premier looking after vulnerable Tasmanians?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Yes, absolutely, more than any other government in the history of Tasmania.
Dr WOODRUFF – Well, let’s talk about your priorities on putting money into the stadium. One of the other things you are not costing, money that could be going into vulnerable Tasmanians that the Public Trustee represents, is going into paying to get entertainment to Tasmania.
What has been costed for the requirement for the state to pay for event attraction funding in the stadium budget that has been proposed? How much money is going towards attracting events to Tasmania? Because they’re sure not going to come by themselves.
Ms BEACH – The analysis included in the planning application is full cost, so they are not necessarily new costs. So, this is not in assumed any additional event funding as part of the project funding.
Dr WOODRUFF – I didn’t understand. It is the case, is it not, that we will have to spend the money to attract events? How much has been costed for that?
Ms BEACH – The analysis has looked at considering a number of different costs through the stadium development. The project does not assume any of the project funding will go towards event analysis. Event funding on a year‑to-year basis is a decision for the government from its event allocation each year.
Dr WOODRUFF – So, it’s a future cost that is not put into the project? That will come out of another part of the government budget towards attracting events to go to the stadium?
Ms BEACH – Event funding is an allocation the government would make each year.
Dr WOODRUFF – But it is stadium‑specific event attraction that will come out of other budget areas?
Ms BEACH – It would be a decision as to the event funding allocated that year as to what it is spent on, so it may not be an additional spend.
