· Peter Gutwein trying to fool Tasmanians over Spirit costs
· Travel and legal fees not transferrable
· Peter Gutwein must come clean and tell the truth
Peter Gutwein is blatantly deceiving Tasmanians by claiming millions of taxpayer dollars already spent on the project to build new Spirit of Tasmania vessels is transferrable to the new ship builder.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Shane Broad, said Peter Gutwein was trying to fool Tasmanians.
“Peter Gutwein has repeatedly stated that “not one dollar had been spent or provided to FSG” associated with the construction of the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels, but we know this is not true,” Dr Broad said.
“Figures from the TT-Line annual report show that almost $700,000 has been spent on business class travel to Europe, primarily associated with visits to FSG.
“A further $2 million has been spent over the past three financial years on consultancies for the new Spirits, including nearly $500,000 on legal advice – presumably associated with the failed FSG contract – that is a total of almost $2.7 million.
“Today in Parliament, Peter Gutwein tried to tell Tasmanians that these costs are transferrable to the new ship builders – does Peter Gutwein really think Tasmanians are going to believe that rubbish?
“You can’t transfer the cost of flights that have already been taken or legal fees associated with the failed FSG contract.
“The fact is Tasmanians have had to pay for the Government’s failure to manage this critical infrastructure project and it’s time Peter Gutwein came clean and told the truth.”
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure
