Save UTAS has lashed Labor leader over “blatant lies’ over sale of Sandy Bay campus

The debate over legislation on the University of Tasmania’s move from Sandy Bay to the city rages on. Read the latest attack from Save UTAS.

Save UTAS representatives Mia Grant, Mike Foster, Dr Ruth Barton, Greg Barns S.C, Angela Bird, and Jeff Malpas. Picture: Linda Higginson

Save UTAS has launched a scathing attack on the Labor Party accusing it of telling “blatant lies” about the sale of the Sandy Bay campus.

It has produced an information sheet ‘Why Labor stoops to lies about UTAS’ detailing what it says are seven “completely false claims” including that 2000 homes can be built on the land.

“Labor hasn’t disclosed that NO home, NOT a single one, can be built at Sandy Bay because the entire campus is zoned ‘education’,” the sheet says.

Save UTAS co-chair Michael Foster said the group had met Labor many times over the past three years and they had “not been interested in the university”.

“They were silent throughout nearly three years of public debate,” he said.

“We asked them not to use UTAS issues to score political points but last week’s massive PR campaign showed they couldn’t resist.

“We can only assume their goal is to raise (leader) Dean Winter’s profile, or embarrass the government, and it has also been suggested that by falsely claiming that housing could be built on the campus they might plan to drive a wedge between the government and the JLN members if they could con them into believing the “campus is available for housing” scam.”

SaveUTAS leaflet on why Labor stoops to lies about UTAS

Mr Foster said the bill before parliament would enable UTAS to sell vacant land that is surplus to its needs and seek approval to market that.

“It was a surprise that Labor would tell such a blatant lie as that the campus would be lost for housing if the government’s bill passes,” he said.

“We will disseminate the ‘Seven Labor Lies information sheet everywhere because it’s important that the community isn’t deceived by the lies promulgated last week by Labor and the building industry.”

Save UTAS co-chair Angela Bird said it was “despicable to deceive people into thinking the Sandy Bay campus can be quickly converted into 2000 homes” when the rezoning process would take years and may be unsuccessful.

“Has a Tasmanian political party ever stooped so low?” she said.

“Tasmania needs new homes and a refurbished uni now, not in a few years’ time.”

Ms Bird said UTAS could sell its “extensive city properties” so much-needed homes can be built on them.

“These sites are empty or rented out. They are ‘shovel-ready’. Builders could start work immediately, without waiting years to see whether a rezoning is approved.”

Prominent Hobart barrister Greg Barns SC said it was not too late to stop the university’s move into the city.

“This is a complete failure on the part of the university and Labor Party to respect the fact that this university is on land gifted to it by the people,” he said.

“It is entirely reasonable for the parliament to want to be able to hold the university accountable for any redevelopment of that land which in the first place didn’t belong to it.”

Mr Barns said it was of “deep concern” that taxpayers funds were being used for the move.