Mr BAYLEY question to MINISTER for MACQUARIE POINT URBAN RENEWAL, Mr ABETZ
It’s obvious the government is now set to break another stadium cost cap promise. Today we’ve heard that failed tenderer Webuild could receive more than provided for not to build the stadium. While you initially denied the Middle East conflict would drive up construction costs, it’s now a new talking point, and if asked if he’d stick to the stadium cost cap promise, the Premier has conspicuously refused to answer. Meanwhile, critical public service jobs are being slashed across a system that cannot cope already.
The Premier committed to the parliament to limit spending on the stadium to $875 million, and you’ve said you have a duty to be transparent. This is your moment. If the costs exceed the promised cap, will you seek parliamentary approval for this extra spend before the contract is signed?
ANSWER
Speaker, again, a question from somebody that has been opposed to the stadium from day-one. Can I, with the indulgence of the House, quickly revert to the question by the other member for Clark, Ms Johnston, I think you may be dealing with outdated information there, but I’ll get back to you on notice. I think in April there was an update in relation to that limit, but I’ll come back to that.
Mr GEORGE – It always changes.
Mr ABETZ – And Mr George interjects and says it always changes, and you know what?
Mr George – No, your story changes.
Mr Abetz – Of course, it changes. We live in a dynamic world, in a dynamic economy, and things do change. Things –
Mr George – Your story changes.
The SPEAKER – Order. Honourable member for Franklin, Mr George.
Mr BAYLEY – Point of order, 45, relevance.
Mr Abetz – That’s fair enough, too.
Mr Bayley – Please, bring yourself back to the question: will you bring the inevitable cost blowout back to this parliament?
Mr O’Byrne – And that wasn’t AI.
Mr Abetz – Speaker, I was provoked by my fellow member for Franklin, Mr George, and I should not have been and so I –
The SPEAKER – Speak through the Chair, honourable Treasurer
Mr Abetz – Speaker, I will respond. As the honourable member for Clark, this one being Mr Bayley, knows, we are in a live procurement process. I’m not going to say anything. I cannot, nor should I, say anything that might in any way, shape or form prejudice the live procurement process and announce figures, et cetera, which will have an impact on trying to ensure we get the very best possible deal for the very best possible stadium so that we can have an iconic gateway to our capital city and an economic enabler like no other. What I have committed to, the government has committed to, is being transparent – as transparent as possible keeping in mind the commercial realities of being in a live procurement process. We will not prejudice that, despite the pursuit of the Greens. Our concern is for the benefit of the people of Tasmania to get the very best possible deal, and that requires us to go through the process, especially as required by probity.
Supplementary Question
Mr Bayley – I didn’t ask about the figures. I didn’t ask him to reveal the figures or detail anything about the procurement process. I asked him about a basic principle, which is that there was a price cap made to this parliament in order to secure its vote, and the project was approved on the basis of that promised $875 million cost cap. If you can’t keep a commitment that was made, why shouldn’t the parliament be asked the question as to whether they accept the additional cost. It’s pretty simple: will you be bringing the additional cost blowout back to this parliament?
The SPEAKER – The honourable member’s time has expired.
Mr Abetz – Speaker, hypothetical question from the Deputy Leader of the Greens, and he’s already described it as a ‘cost blowout’, if I heard your words correctly at the end of the question. You’ve already made your mind up about this. So, if it’s a dollar over, it’ll be a cost blowout, according to the honourable member for Clark, without doubt.
Members interjecting.
Mr Abetz – What we will do is advise the people of Tasmania as to the costs when and as we are able to, but we are not going to prejudice anything in relation to the negotiations that are currently underway –
Dr WOODRUFF – Sure, but will you come back to parliament with it?
The SPEAKER – Order, honourable Leader of the Greens.
Mr Abetz – So that we can ink a deal with the preferred tenderer, should everything go in the direction that 70 per cent of the parliament is hopeful for, and I accept 30 per cent of the parliament isn’t hopeful for.
The SPEAKER – The honourable Treasurer’s time has expired.
