Yesterday’s Public Accounts Committee hearing provided clear cut evidence that Premier Jeremy Rockliff has misled Parliament – and he needs to be held accountable.

Last month, the Premier took on notice a question about the cost of upgrades to Devonport Port. Later that evening, the House was told:

“In response to the question by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier asking “can he confirm that the latest estimate of the cost of Devonport upgrades is now around $350 000 000”, I can advise the answer is no.”

When the cost of the project was subsequently revealed to be $375 million, the Premier claimed he had not been advised of the updated cost estimate at the time the answer was given.

Both statements were untrue.

The CEO of TT-Line revealed yesterday that not only was the government advised of the cost estimate in December last year, but they had even approved an increase in TT-Line’s borrowing limit to fund the increased cost of the wharf upgrades.

This is now an open and shut case of misleading Parliament, as well as a clear breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.

The Premier must be held to account for his actions – including by his Lambie coalition partners.

Do they stand for transparency and accountability, as they claim? Or do they stand with the Liberals, no matter how they behave? The standard you walk by is the standard you accept.

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer