The Liberal Ferries Fiasco has dominated GBE scrutiny hearings this week and made it clear that the Government should adopt Labor’s GBE reforms, immediately.

TasPorts refused to accept any responsibility for the debacle, deflecting blame and accountability while Tasmanian taxpayers suffer the consequences. Unbelievably, Minister Vincent backed them in, saying he didn’t think they had done anything wrong either.  Is he serious?  They refused full access to berth 3 and just watched the debacle unfold.

It was also revealed that TT-Line did not disclose the $80 million bailout payment to the Finnish shipbuilder in their company financials, because they didn’t need to.  It is hidden away in global figures. If it wasn’t for Labor asking questions about it, taxpayers would never have known they paid $80 million of their money to a bail out a foreign ship builder.

TT-Line negotiated directly with the Finnish Government, with no formal involvement from the Tasmanian or Australian Governments.  Do the Liberals really believe this is appropriate?

These matters are material to the sustainability and operations of Tasmanian Government businesses.  They should be required to be disclosed and under our proposed reforms, they would be. 

Today, I’m calling on the Premier to make GBE reforms priority number one when Parliament resumes next year.  This week has made it obvious that they’re overdue.

We have a fleet of Government businesses which are overloaded with debt, blaming each other, and not focused on growing Tasmania’s economy.

Instead of wasting the Parliament’s time on doomed proposals like privatising the Public Trustee, let us make the changes that get our Government Businesses acting in the best interests of Tasmania.

Dean Winter MP
Labor Leader