Premier Jeremy Rockliff has again failed to answer questions about the process behind him promising $1.2 million to a business with strong Liberal connections.
It was revealed last month the Premier promised $1.2 million to the New Norfolk Distillery, requiring the business to only contribute $500,000 itself.
The New Norfolk Distillery’s Director Tarrant Derksen’s brother was a Liberal candidate for Lyons at the last State election and is employed in Guy Barnett’s office.
Despite this, when asked about how any conflict of interest was managed in the process behind promising the funds in Budget Estimates today, all the Premier could say was that there was no conflict.
He refused to explain to Tasmanians what process was followed to promise so much money to a business with ties to the Liberal Party.
The Premier did confess that he doesn’t usually write letters offering to give out million-dollar grants, but didn’t say the New Norfolk Distillery letter was the only example of this happening.
This begs the question – how many other similar letters of promise has he made to his Liberal mates?
I have been contacted by another distiller who expressed annoyance that the New Norfolk Distillery has received special treatment. This person also stated that other distillers are not happy with the special treatment given to this operator.
After ten years in office, the Rockliff Liberal Government has become so secretive that two of its members quit last month.
While being thrown into minority because of a lack of transparency should have been a wakeup call for the Premier, it appears that he hasn’t learned a thing.
Labor will put an end to the rorts that have seen tens of millions dished out by Liberal members with clear conflicts of interest.
Janie Finlay MP
Shadow Minister for Small Business
