Liberals fail to commit state funds for crucial upgrades at Burnie Port

Tasmanian Labor
  • Michael Ferguson fails to commit investment in Burnie Port
  • Liberals inaction putting jobs and investment at risk
  • Government abandons the port as mineral exports decline
  • Michael Ferguson is putting jobs and investment at risk by failing to fund crucial upgrades at the Burnie Port.

    In Government Business Enterprise scrutiny hearings today, Michael Ferguson failed to commit any state funds to upgrade port.

    Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Shane Broad, said the Liberals were abandoning the Burnie Port at a time when mineral exports were declining.

    “Alarming ABS data released earlier this week reveal Tasmanian mineral exports declined 7% for the last quarter and have dropped 23.1% compared to last year,” Dr Broad said.

    “The statistics are shocking for the Burnie Port, where much of Tasmania’s minerals are exported, with a recorded decline of 3.2% over the past year.

    “Businesses have told Labor that capacity constraints at the port are costing them thousands of dollars and are putting investment in the minerals sector in jeopardy.

    “Michael Ferguson needs to stop trying to take credit for potential investment in the port by the Federal Government and cough up appropriate state funds to get these upgrades underway as soon as possible.”

    Shane Broad MP

    Shadow Minister for Infrastructure

    /Public Release. View in full here.