Premier Rockliff has sensationally refused to rule out leasing the new Spirits ships and allowing them to operate in another country until July 2026 – missing the next two Tasmanian summers.

If the ships are leased to another country, the Tasmanian taxpayers have effectively been forced to support another country’s tourism and hospitality industry while their own suffers through the worst trading conditions they’ve faced in years.

The tourism industry was forced to find out through the media that the new Spirits won’t be arriving this summer, and now they might have to watch them sailing elsewhere too.

Not only is the project five years delayed, $500 million over budget, with no berth constructed, but the billion-dollar ships might not even be new by the time they arrive.

Premier Rockliff needs to immediately rule out leasing our new Spirits overseas.

Dean Winter MP
Labor Leader
Shadow Minister for Tourism & Hospitality