Tasmania’s
economic regulator has put the government on notice over TasWater’s stalled
capital works program.
Shadow
Treasurer David O’Byrne said despite a huge injection of cash from Peter
Gutwein, critical water and sewerage upgrades are not progressing.
“Peter
Gutwein waged war with TasWater for two years before doing a total backflip and
handing over a bucket of Tasmanian taxpayers cash, supposedly intended to fast
track badly-needed capital works – a program that’s now in tatters.
“Setting up
the Capital Delivery Office was meant to speed things up, but the regulator
says it’s instead contributing
to delays – a complaint echoed by the state’s civil construction industry.
“Now we
hear the impact of COVID-19 has cast a cloud over TasWater’s overall financial
position, putting the capital investment program deeper into a hole.
“Labor
warned Peter Gutwein at the time that his plan would end badly; unfortunately
that’s what we are now seeing.
“It’s no
wonder he flick passed the problem to his leadership rival and struggling
infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson.
“Meanwhile, critical infrastructure is failing and Tasmanians are suffering because of it. The Liberals need to explain their plan to get the capital works program back on track.”
David O’Byrne
Shadow Treasurer
