Minister for Infrastructure Michael Ferguson’s failure to deliver the new Spirit vessels is now costing the Tasmanian economy over half a billion dollars for every year they are delayed.

Economist Saul Eslake calculated in 2020 that it costs the Tasmanian economy $350 million each year the new Spirits are delayed, based on the average spend per visitor figure of $1,924 provided by Tourism Tasmania.

When the 2024 average spend per visitor of $2,740 is used instead, the number increases to $504 million each year the ferries are delayed. Despite the Liberals having seven years to prepare, work hasn’t even started on upgrading Berth 3 in Devonport.

The Spirits should be a flagship achievement for the state, but under the Liberals the project has turned into the biggest infrastructure stuff-up in Tasmanian history.

The incompetence of Michael Ferguson has real consequences for Tasmania’s economy, and this week’s Preliminary Outcomes Report shows that Tasmania’s budget deficit of $1.5 billion is now nearly five times worse than it was at the height of COVID.

Businesses in the North-West and tourism operators across the state have been let down by the Liberal-Lambie Coalition. The Spirits are five years late, $500 million over budget and unable to operate at full capacity when the first ship is operational – and we are still not sure when this will be.

Labor’s No.1 priority is getting our economy back on track and getting Tasmanians into safe, secure, well-paid jobs. That means we can’t afford to have our crucial infrastructure projects bungled by an incompetent minister, and we can’t afford the Liberal-Lambie Coalition.

Anita Dow MP
Deputy Labor Leader
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure