Liberals’ ferry parking bill approaches $2 million per month as Spirit V arrives in Geelong

With Spirit V set to arrive in Geelong today, the Liberals are well on the way to spending close to $2 million per month to keep both brand new vessels stored in Victoria.

It’s now costing the Government twice as much to keep two unused ferries in Victoria as it does making public transport free for Tasmanians.

It is an astonishing example of Liberal waste, particularly when the Government could be keeping the ships here in Tasmania instead of paying a Victorian port and Victorian workers.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that it was costing Tasmanians $900,000 a month to store Spirit IV at anchor in Geelong.

That was before the global fuel crisis set in.

Tasmanians deserve to know exactly how much it is costing to keep both of our brand new ships in Victoria, and how much was spent keeping Spirit V in Scotland.

The impact of the Spirits saga will be felt by Tasmanians for generations to come, as Premier Rockliff and Eric Abetz cut jobs and services to pay for 13 years of Liberal waste.

An exercise in Liberal waste – the taxpayer tab so far for the Spirits fiasco:

• Bailout to the Finnish shipbuilder: $81 million
• Another secret bailout payment to the shipbuilder: $13 million
• Cost blowout for Berth 3: $403 million
• Upgrade to hulls after building the wrong fenders: $9 million
• Storing Spirit IV in Scotland: $6.4 million
• Storing Spirit IV in Victoria: $900k per month
• Storing Spirit V in Scotland: UNDISCLOSED
• Storing Spirit V in Victoria: UNDISCLOSED
• Taxpayer bailout in 2025/26 budget: $75 million
• Bailout in come in the upcoming budget: UNDISCLOSED