Macquarie Point funding from federal government to be spent on more than a new stadium

A breakdown of the $240m federal funding for Macquarie Point has been released. While an inquiry brings clarity over police bugging claims. Coverage of the Tuesday’s top political stories >>

Risdon Prison generic photos. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Ahead of Tasmania’s Parliament returning for its second week of the year, further details have emerged over the deal between the federal and state governments for the Macquarie Point redevelopment — the site pitched for a new Hobart AFL stadium. Follow for rolling political coverage.

Report on bugging claims inside Risdon Prison tabled

All four listening device warrants obtained by a police investigation into an alleged conspiracy to manufacture false evidence to free murderer Sue Neill-Fraser were invalid because they referred to a non-existent crime, an inquiry has found.

A report on the use of surveillance devices in prisons by former Director of Public Prosecutions Damien Bugg, KC, was tabled in state parliament on Tuesday.

He cleared Tasmania Police of claims they listened in to confidential conversations between prisoners and their lawyers in meeting rooms at Risdon Prison.

Damien Bugg. Picture: AAP Photo/Alan Porritt

Police set up “Operation Ransack 2” in 2017 to investigate suspicions of a conspiracy to manufacture false evidence to help Ms Neill-Fraser’s appeal against a conviction for murdering her defacto partner on Australia Day 2009.

Mr Bugg’s inquiry was called after it was revealed that covert listening devices were installed unlawfully under an invalid warrant.

In August 2022, Supreme Court judge Michael Brett discharged the criminal case against lawyer Jeffrey Ian Thompson over two counts of perverting the course of justice due to that invalid warrant.

During the case, it was revealed that the listening devices also recorded all conversations in a prison meeting room over two months.

Mr Bugg looked at 19 surveillance device warrants issued to Tasmania Police and found four were invalid.

“All four warrants were sought by the Operation Ransack 2 team, and the invalidity was the same in every case,” he said.

“All four have the same flaw, describing the crime as ‘Conspiracy contrary to section

297(2)’ in paragraph three of the warrant.

He noted, “there is no crime of conspiracy under section 297(2) of the Criminal Code”.

That section says that “married persons are not criminally responsible for any conspiracy between themselves only”.

Regardless of the invalid warrants, Mr Bugg said he was satisfied that claims police had inappropriately listened to legally privileged conversations were incorrect.

“I am satisfied, and have met and personally assured all but one of the people who expressed concern to me, that no recording of any conversation external to the matter under investigation was monitored or downloaded from those devices and on their retrieval they were ‘wiped’ without play back,” he said.

He made a series of recommendations for minor changes to the way warrants were sought and issued.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams welcomed the findings of the review and thanked Mr Bugg.

Tasmania Police said legal professional privilege was not compromised and that Mr Bugg was satisfied that Tasmania Police did not monitor or download privileged conversations between lawyers and clients which were irrelevant to the particular investigation for which there was a warrant.

And Tasmania Police said the organisation had taken steps immediately following Justice Brett’s decision to implement a suite of reforms, which were either implemented or underway

– DAVID KILLICK

Tassie apprentices the winners as Govt extends payroll tax scheme

The Tasmanian Government says it will introduce legislation this week to provide help to businesses which employ apprentices and trainees, by extending the payroll tax rebate scheme by another 12 months.

Treasurer and Acting Minister for Finance Michael Ferguson said in recent years the scheme has helped thousands of Tasmanians gain access to a working career through apprenticeships, and each year supported 3300 placements across the state.

“Apprentices are vital to Tasmanian businesses, the delivery of the state’s biggest ever infrastructure pipeline and the health of our economy,” Minister Ferguson said.

Ronald Young & Co Builders 4th-year apprentice Oliver Burnell, with Tasmanian Treasurer Michael Ferguson in West Hobart.

“By introducing legislation to extend our existing payroll tax rebate for one year to 30 June 2025 we are throwing our full support behind Tasmanian businesses that invest in our young apprentices and grow the next generation of skilled workers across the state.”

Ronald Young & Co Builders general manager James Collins said the scheme extension would allow his family-owned business to not only maintain its existing roster of apprentices, but plan to take on more junior employees in the near future.

Mr Ferguson said the payroll tax rebate scheme was uncapped in total numbers, and applied to apprentices and trainees of any age, and young employees aged under 25.

– DUNCAN ABEY

What federal funding for Mac Point will be spent on

A $240m federal funding deal for Macquarie Point requires the state government to deliver extensive wharf upgrades, build housing on the site and maintain public access to the waterfront.

Details of the deal were released by the federal government on Tuesday.

A proposed $715m AFL stadium is the centrepiece of the redevelopment – although the federal funding deal makes it clear the delivery of the funding requires the delivery of much more than just a sporting venue.

The deal was signed on May 16 by Tasmania’s Acting Sports Minister Nick Duigan and federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King. The stadium is not mentioned in the text of the document.

New designs of what Hobart's new AFL stadium at Macquarie Point could look like. Images supplied by AFL

It requires the state to provide “upgrades to Macquarie Wharf, with the immediate priority being the upgrade of Wharf 6 to provide Australia’s Antarctic icebreaker, RSV Nuyina with a working wharf throughout the season and lay-up berth when not at sea.”

The deal also requires the state to deliver upgrades “in due course” to Wharves 4 and 5 to support polar and research programs, defence support and additional commercial opportunities.

And it requires housing on the site “including a portion set aside as affordable, essential worker or social housing”.

The total federal commitment to the Macquarie Point precinct is $240m. The total budget listed in the funding agreement is $715m.

That figure does not include the $314m relocation of the Macquarie Point wastewater plant.

Acting Minister for Sport and Events Nick Duigan said the deal brought the stadium a step closer.

“This agreement includes the terms for unlocking the Australian Government’s $240 million funding commitment for the development of the site, leading to millions of dollars of other investments and thousands of jobs,” Minister Duigan said.

“This is another important milestone as we continue towards delivering what is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Tasmanians.

“The excitement is building around Mac Point and it is easy to see why. This precinct is set to deliver significant economic, cultural, and social benefits for all Tasmanians.

– DAVID KILLICK