Labor says it was kept in the dark over TT — Line ferries in lead-up to state election

Labor claims it was kept in the dark about Spirit of Tasmania problems in the lead-up to the state election — in what the former leader describes as a breach of the caretaker conventions.

Spirit of Tasmanian IV first sea trial. Picture: Spirit of Tasmania

Labor has claimed it was kept in the dark about problems with TT-Line’s Spirit of Tasmania project in the lead-up to the state election — in what the former opposition leader describes as a breach of the caretaker conventions.

Former Labor leader Rebecca White and former shadow Treasurer Shane Broad appeared before the Public Accounts Committee inquiry into TT-Line on Friday.

Labor was briefed on the Spirits project by Treasury and TT-Line on February 29.

Former TT-Line chair Michael Grainger previously told the committee the briefing had included information about the financial difficulties being faced by shipbuilders RMC.

The TT-Line board approved a $80m additional payment to the shipbuilders on March 21, two days before the state election.

Former shadow treasurer Shane Broad said if Labor had formed government after the election, it would have been “completely blindsided”.

“We were not told that there was going there were consideration of a €50m bailout for the Finnish boat builder, RMC,” he told the committee

Shane Broad Labor member for Braddon. Rebecca White Labor leader announcing candidates for the state election in Launceston. Picture: Rob Burnett

“We were not told that there was going to be a bailout from the Finnish government.

“We were not told that TT-Line was considering waiving the penalty clauses.

“We were not told of the problems with the wharf upgrades and in particular that they were going to go back to the market after they tore up their MOU with the preferred contractor.

“And we were also not told of the significant cost upgrades, where the wharf infrastructure was going from $90m up to $375m.

“We were not given all that information when we had that briefing on the 29th of February [and] we were also not informed when TT line made those decisions before the election.”

Ms White said she had written to the Department of Premier and Cabinet Secretary and Governor Barbara Baker about a series of issues — including the authorisation of drought and disaster relief payments — she believed were kept from Labor during this year’s election campaign.

Rebecca White announces her resignation as Tasmanian Labor leader at Richmond. Picture: Chris Kidd

The caretaker conventions that apply during election periods require that the opposition is kept informed of major policy decisions and appointments.

Ms White said sometimes Premier Jeremy Rockliff briefed her by text message one minute ahead of major announcements.

“In each of these instances, we were either not provided information before a decision was made or I have a record of text messages from the Premier in instance, where he might contact me one minute before it was announced publicly,” she said.

“Certainly no briefing was provided, it was just a copy of the press release or lines from his public statement that he would text me and say, ‘heads up I’m about to announce this’.

“So certainly not in keeping with what would be expected under caretaker conventions.”

Ms White and Dr Broad gave further evidence about the TT-Line briefing to the committee in-camera.

Originally published as Labor says it was kept in the dark over TT — Line ferries in lead-up to state election