The ferries fiasco continues as TT-Line announced they have had to appoint a second broker to help find a leasing arrangement for the new Spirits as the bill for Scottish ports fees has ticked over $100,000. 

The chance of finding a lease for the ships is shrinking every day. Premier Rockliff and the Liberals have left it too late and now Tasmanians are paying more than $47,000 per week to hide their ships on the other side of the world.

TT-Line Interim Chair Damien Bugg KC during government business enterprise hearings made it clear that the chances of Spirit IV being leased out were unlikely.

Minister Eric Abetz was talking about leasing the Spirits at budget estimates in September, more than three months later and the second broker has only just been appointed to start the search.

The only question remaining is when will Premier Rockliff show some backbone, cut his losses, and bring our Spirits home? It doesn’t make sense to keep spending this kind of money keeping them in Scotland, and Tasmanians still don’t know the full costs.

The best place for Tasmania’s new Spirits is in Tasmania. They’ll be safe, we can complete the local fit out, support local jobs and make sure they’re ready to go as soon as the berth is.

Anita Dow MP
Deputy Labor Leader
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure