Ms BURNET question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Major upgrades for the wharf at Macquarie Point, especially Wharf 6, which is in disrepair, is a condition of your $240‑million funding deal for the precinct with the federal government. It is also an essential requirement for us to remain the home base for Antarctic research, expeditions and other activities. Rather than prioritising this critical infrastructure upgrade, you are focused instead on building a costly, unnecessary stadium with a price tag of $1 billion.
It has also now been exposed as a risk to a key part of Tasmania’s economy: our status as Australia’s Antarctic gateway and the nearly 1000 local jobs it supports. Team Tasmania prides ourselves on this status. Premier, what funds has your government committed to the Macquarie Wharf 6 upgrade? Will you prioritise delivering this upgrade ahead of a billion‑dollar stadium? Do you think this project is far more important than a billion‑dollar stadium?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for Clark for the question. We will do both. We will build a stadium and stadium infrastructure, and the economic opportunity associated with that, along with the aspiration of the young boys and girls of Tasmania when it comes to the Tasmanian Devils, which is approaching 2000 members as we speak, as I understand it.
Mr Barnett – 200,000.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Sorry, 200,000. What did I say?
Mr Barnett – 2000.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Right, ten times as much as I said. More than ten times.
Mr Willie – No wonder the budget is in trouble.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I can come to your ideas on budget in a moment, Mr Willie. Do not tempt me. The honourable Speaker is giving me the evil eye so I am not going to go there at all. This is a serious question, and I very much believe we are aligned when it comes to the Antarctic precinct and the opportunities of not only the Berth 6 Wharf infrastructure but also the importance of the Antarctic gateway to Tasmania.
I am proud of the fact, as I have stated previously, that Tasmania is globally significant in Antarctic and Southern Ocean research, teaching, policy and, as I mentioned, diplomatic influence as well. To maximise the opportunities that I have just mentioned, it so happens, honourable Speaker, that in our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future we have committed to delivering Tasmania’s first Antarctic gateway campaign through the Department of State Growth. It will focus on building and strengthening brand, and promoting the gateway to increase visitor attraction and to build trade and investment opportunities with countries aligned with the Antarctic Treaty.
To your question, to ensure we continue to play our part in strengthening the offering of the gateway, we will invest in key port infrastructure upgrades and deliver those port services, and support commercially viable and technically proficient refuelling options or solutions for the Nuyina.
We will also support the Hobart international runway strengthening project, promoting the Hobart International Airport as the gateway for air traffic to the Antarctic, supporting delivery of technical and science infrastructure and ensuring international engagement and trade missions include a focus on attracting international Antarctic programs to operate through Tasmania.
We will deliver this. We will, on reasonable commercial terms, ensure that Berth 6 infrastructure is upgraded, and we will also ensure that we have the stadium infrastructure to support economic opportunity in the state as well.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for answering has expired. I think we are getting a supplementary question from the member for Clark.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Ms BURNET – The question was around what funds have been specifically committed to the upgrade of Macquarie Wharf 6. Will the upgrade be prioritised over a $1‑billion stadium, Premier?
The SPEAKER – I draw the Premier to the first part of that supplementary question. The second part he argued the government was doing at the same time. The first part of the question was about the specific funding.
Mr ROCKLIFF – As I said before, we will come to an arrangement on reasonable commercial terms. This is critical infrastructure for Tasmania and also for the nation. I would hope and expect that the member for Clark – albeit this is a significant Tasmanian project, as is the stadium infrastructure – will also be on Team Tasmania and expect a fair and a good deal for Tasmania from Canberra.
The SPEAKER – I appreciate that the Premier did not answer the first part of the question for you, but you may ask another question if you wish. I call the Leader of the Opposition.
