Ahead of Parliament returning next week Labor is calling on Jeremy Rockliff to start taking Tasmania’s budget position seriously.

He should start by adopting Tasmanian Labor's policy of selling Tasmania's stake in Marinus.

Tasmanian Labor supports Marinus. It is a critical project for the nation, and it’s too important to be stuffed up by the hopeless minority Liberal Government.

Jeremy Rockliff’s track record with the Spirits is exactly why the Australian Government should be the one responsible for building it.

During my budget reply speech I said that if getting this Liberal government out of the way would allow Marinus to finally get built, they should do it.

It will save Tasmania more than half a billion dollars in debt that would otherwise be added to the credit card and it will kickstart a renewable energy boom in the North and North-West.

The Liberals have been promising to build a second Bass Strait interconnector for more than a decade. After 10 years in office, they’ve spent more than $100 million and delivered nothing.

Since the last election Tasmania’s budget position has deteriorated even further, and even if they could afford it, it is clearer than ever that the Liberals won’t be able to build Marinus to the level required.

Marinus will be a massive boost for the regions, and it will create thousands upon thousands of safe, secure, well-paid jobs. Let’s get it built.

Dean Winter MP
Labor Leader