Replacement ferries and poor oversight, leadership under microscope in Tuesday’s GBE hearings

The government-owned businesses responsible for the TT-Line replacement ferries fiasco are expected to come under heavy scrutiny in Tuesday’s start of the final week of parliament committee hearings.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

The government-owned businesses responsible for the TT-Line replacement ferries fiasco are expected to come under heavy scrutiny when parliament’s final week of committee hearings for the year get underway in Hobart on Tuesday.

Labor has signalled it is keen to use week of GBE committee sittings to grill the senior executives of TasPorts over their role in the affair, which has seen the ferries mothballed in Scotland while port infrastructure remains under construction.

“It is very clear to me that you had a ferry operator that was tasked with building port infrastructure when it should have been TasPorts that was tasked with that job,” spokesman Josh Willie said.

Labor member for Clark Josh Willie in Parliament. Picture: Linda Higginson

“Had they been tasked with that, we would probably have Spirit IV in operation now, instead of going to Scotland where it’s being hidden by the Premier because it’s too embarrassed to bring it to Tasmania.

“We’ve seen poor oversight and leadership from the Premier and his team, including key ministers like Michael Ferguson — who has now had to resign — and we’ve seen two government businesses not being able to communicate and work together or lift their eyes and see what’s in the best interest of Tasmania.

“They’ve been too focused on their own profit and loss statements and not making decisions for the broader Tasmanian economy.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he welcomed scrutiny.

“GBE scrutiny happens every single year … bring it on,” he said.

“We’re there to be scrutinised, the GBEs are to be scrutinised.

“The opposition and other members can get on with their job, it’s important part of the democratic process.”

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said she had concerns about government plans to restructure government business enterprises.

Doctor Rosalie Woodruff Greens leader. Final day of state parliament for 2024. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Instead of the government’s proposed internal GBE rearrangement, there needs to be an independent review of the evidence, undertaken by experts, to assess how GBEs should best operate in the public interest,” she said.

“Tasmania’s GBEs should work efficiently, collaboratively, and effectively in the best interests of Tasmanians.

“The recent dysfunction at TT-Line and TasPorts over the delivery of the new Spirits of Tasmania vessels shows that some GBEs are instead costing Tasmanians dearly.

“This is not new. Forestry Tasmania and Tasracing have long been secretive, loss-making companies that provide no public benefit. Hydro Tasmania and TasNetworks need far greater financial accountability over their billion-dollar investments.”

Four days of GBE scrutiny kicks off with Hydro Tasmania in front of the House of Assembly committee at 9am on Tuesday and the Tasmanian Public Finance Corporation in front of the Legislative Council committee.

Originally published as Replacement ferries and poor oversight, leadership under microscope in Tuesday’s GBE hearings