The Minority Hodgman Liberal
Government is risking crucial infrastructure projects by placing the
responsibility to build in the hands of the failed former Health Minister
Michael Ferguson.
“While patients and health and
hospital staff may be cheering at the news that they will no longer be at the
mercy of an incompetent Minister, commuters stuck in traffic or traveling on
dangerous roads will now have cause to worry,” Shadow Infrastructure Minister
David O’Byrne said.
“The government’s infrastructure
agenda is already in chaos and it cannot be allowed to slip into further
disarray on the failed Minister’s watch.
“Michael Ferguson’s disastrous
tenure as Health Minister is well documented but he cannot be allowed to bungle
the critical job of building for Tasmania’s future.
“Tasmanians want and deserve to see
things built and they cannot be let down yet again.
“But already, the Spirit
replacements are in crisis, local projects are being delayed and the Bruny
Ferry remains an unacceptable headache for commuters.
“July 1 was deadline day for
delivering the Liberals 30-year infrastructure strategy but yet again it has
been delayed and is now six months overdue.
“Over the past five years, not one
road infrastructure project has been commenced or completed in Tasmania that
was not already announced by the previous Federal and State Labor Governments.”
Infrastructure projects that have been delayed include:
- The TT Line Spirit replacements
- The Hobart Airport Interchange
- The Midland Highway
- A South East Traffic Solution
- Binalong Bay Road
- The Mowbray Interconnector
“Michael Ferguson has another thing
coming if he believes he can now take it easy after his five years of failure
on the health and hospital system,” Mr O’Byrne said.
“Just as he was held to account for his chaotic handling of Tasmania’s health system, he will be held to account for the critical lack of an infrastructure agenda from the Government.”
David O’Byrne MP
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure
