Labor lashes Liberals for ‘dodgy’ surplus figures

THE State Opposition says the Liberals have been caught out robbing TT-Line to spruce up the state budget.

THE State Opposition says the Liberals have been caught out robbing TT-Line to spruce up the state budget, having failed to table legislation to quarantine the funds for replacement ferries.

The Government will take $40 million a year for the next two years from the TT-Line and place the money in a “future fund” to be used only to pay for new Spirit of Tasmania ferries.

The fund was to be protected by specific legislation to ensure it could only spent on replacement ferries.

Labor says the Liberals have been caught out robbing TT-Line to spruce up the state budget. Picture CHRIS KIDD

However, with one sitting week left for House of Assembly before the long summer break, the relevant legislation is yet to appear.

Shadow treasurer Scott Bacon said the lack of urgency about the legislation confirmed the money had been removed from TT-Line to allow the Liberals to post a surplus.

“The Government said the legislation to secure the $80 million for new ships was urgent,” Mr Bacon said.

“It was part of the Budget that allowed [Treasurer] Peter Gutwein to claim a dodgy surplus but we’ve heard nothing from him since. Tasmania’s credit rating was downgraded based on exactly this sort of dodgy accounting.”

The State Budget predicted a $77.3 million surplus for this financial year before a $7.9 million surplus the following year.

Premier Will Hodgman said Labor was continuing to show “relentless negativity” about the budget.

“We are putting aside funds to replace our Spirits that are currently bringing more passengers to Tasmania than ever before,” he said.

“Our budget is back into the black and it’s the [result] of making significant savings which we promised to do in Opposition, it’s a result of our economy growing which is increasing revenues to our state.”

TT-Line’s annual report tabled last week showed the state-owned Bass Strait ferry company achieved a $18.8 million profit last financial year on surging passengers numbers.

Originally published as Labor lashes Liberals for ‘dodgy’ surplus figures