The performance of Tasmania’s Government Business Enterprises and their shareholder Ministers will be in the spotlight this week when Labor members get to scrutinise the direction and decision making of the public entities that play a critical role in our state’s economic fortunes.
There have been some seriously questionable decisions by the Gutwein Government that have undermined the effectiveness of some these enterprises and the public should know how this has impacted the GBEs and the state.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said the eleventh hour decision by the government to pull the contract for the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels has been quantified by economist Saul Eslake to have cost $350 million dollars a year to the economy and 6000 jobs.
“The government needs to explain what the new timeline will be for the replacement of the Spirit of Tasmania vessels,” Ms White said.
“Every year this immensely important multi-million dollar infrastructure project is delayed by the government will have a multi-million dollar impact on jobs and economic activity across the state.
“There are also serious questions to be answered by the government about who is going to pay for TasNetworks’ Marinus Link and where Hydro Tasmania’s first pumped hydro site is going to be. The decision about the pumped hydro site was due before the end of this year but we’ve heard nothing.
“These are all significant projects that combined are worth billions of dollars.
“The fate and the fortune of Tasmania relies in no small part on the good and effective decision making and governance of GBEs and Labor will scrutinise their operations to ensure the Tasmanian public is kept informed.”
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
