TasPorts dodges blame for new ferries fiasco

TasPorts has washed its hands of any responsibility for failing to have berthing facilities ready in time for the new TT-Line ferries at Devonport.

Amara Doyle interim chair TasPorts. GBE hearings 2024. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

TasPorts has washed its hands of any responsibility for failing to have berthing facilities ready in time for the new TT-Line ferries at Devonport.

The company’s interim chair Arama Doyle has told a House of Assembly committee hearing the government-owned port operator had done nothing wrong.

The two new Bass Strait ferries will be parked in Scotland until the berthing facilities are complete — expected by February 2027.

The company’s CEO Anthony Donald said he raised concerns about potential delays with then-minister Michael Ferguson as early as April 2023.

Mr Ferguson resigned from cabinet over the stuff-up and TT-Line chair Michael Grainger quit at the request of the government.

The new TT Line boat Spirit of Tasmania IV in Finland. Picture: Rauma Marine Constructions

Ms Doyle said the problem wasn’t TasPorts’ fault.

“I don’t think we contributed to the issue,” she said.

“I don’t think we were responsible or contributed. That’s really a question for TT-Line and the minister responsible.

“We have spent considerable time as a board reviewing all the steps we took as part of that process, and we believe that we took all possible steps, available to us.”

“We had a big project to deliver, which we have delivered our portion on time, on budget,” she said.

She said the board raised concerns about delays with other infrastructure with the then-minister but didn’t raise them with the Premier.

“Hindsight is a great thing,” she said.

Labor’s Anita Dow questioned Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent if he agreed TasPorts was blameless.

“Every bit of literature that’s been put in front of me so far indicates, and that’s the communications that we have available to us, does not show that TasPorts had the level of involvement in the decisions that are being accused of by opposition parties or the media,” he said.

Anthony Donald CEO TasPorts. GBE hearings 2024. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

TasPorts CEO Anthony Donald said he raised concerns about potential delays in April last year.

“We raised concerns with respect to their scheduled performance, and that there was a risk that the vessels may not be able to successfully load or unload,” he said.

He also said TasPorts completed the wharf on time.

“The wharf is complete. We have constructed a brand-new wharf facility, and the berth pocket is complete,” he said.

“I don’t want to be at risk of oversimplifying the complex work that TT-Line are responsible for: we’re talking about the terminal work.

“So terminal pavement, terminal building, the land-side improvements and the ramp, that’s essentially what needs to be completed.”

Mr Donald denied TasPorts blocked TT-Line from accessing their site until May this year.

Originally published as TasPorts dodges blame for new ferries fiasco