The new Spirits project is the biggest infrastructure stuff up in Tasmanian history. The new ships are five years late, $500 million over budget and every year they are delayed is costing the Tasmanian economy half a billion dollars.

Spirit IV is still docked in Finland, despite TT-Line taking ownership back on the 13th of September.  Why is it not on the way to Tasmania?  The Premier just needs to start being honest.

Every step of the way, Jeremy Rockliff has either been unaware of what is going on, or deliberately hidden the truth.

Almost nothing has been done since the crisis was revealed and there is a real risk that if this continues the new Spirits won’t be operating in two summers time, not just this coming summer.

During Estimates, Minister Eric Abetz admitted that the government is actively considering storing the new ships in Singapore for an undefined period. How much will it cost Tasmanian taxpayers to have the ships sitting in Singapore? Premier Rockliff doesn’t want to deal with the shame of the Spirits sitting anchored off our coast – he just wants to hide the embarrassment.

Upon taking embattled former Minister Ferguson’s Infrastructure portfolio, Premier Rockliff said he was taking control of the project – he could start by being honest about what is going on.

Sarah Lovell MLC
Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years