The new Spirits project, when fully delivered, is going to be a great thing for Tasmania.

Michael Ferguson’s incompetence has allowed the project to snowball into the biggest infrastructure stuff-up in our history.

Yesterday, Treasurer Ferguson tried to claim that he was “kept in the dark”, but the only people who’ve been kept in the dark are the Tasmanian public.

Appearing in front of the Public Accounts Committee, TasPorts said they regularly updated Ferguson on their concerns around TT-Line’s ability to deliver the berth 3 upgrades.

His response was effectively to do nothing. It was an extraordinary approach given the project is worth at least $350 million for every year it is delayed.

Despite his best efforts to throw TT-Line overboard, as the shareholder Minister, Michael Ferguson needs to take responsibility for this mess.  

Like Jeremy Rockliff, he has not apologised and not taken responsibility. He should do both.

Dean Winter MP
Labor Leader
Shadow Minister for Tourism & Hospitality