The new Spirits should be operating from Devonport by now, but because of the Government’s incompetence and mismanagement, they are stuck on the other side of the world with nowhere to operate from.

The business community says it has lost trust in this government. So have we. 

The Liberals now need constant supervision, and that’s why Labor will seek to establish a Parliamentary Committee to oversee the Spirits of Tasmania project until the boats are finally sailing out of the Mersey, fully loaded with passengers and freight.  The Committee will seek regular updates and hold hearings to ensure appropriate oversight is provided and that Tasmanians are kept up to date.

We have consulted with the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee Ruth Forrest to ensure that the new committee’s work does not overlap with the current PAC inquiry.

It has become an international embarrassment for the state, damaged Tasmania’s brand and completely shattered the business community’s trust in the Liberal Minority Government according to the TCCI.

As the TCCI said, it has become glaringly obvious there are significant cultural and leadership issues in the Tasmanian Government and Government Businesses involved with the project. Business groups have called for more oversight of the Berth 3 project and the public are beyond fed up with the whole fiasco.  

This is about providing transparency and accountability, and it’s about overseeing Tasmania’s most important infrastructure project and making this Liberal Minority Government answerable to the public. Premier Rockliff’s Government, TT-Line and TasPorts have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted to deliver this project smoothly.

Dean Winter MP
Labor Leader
Shadow Minister for Tourism & Hospitality

Anita Dow MP
Deputy Labor Leader
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure