Spirits Sink Ferguson 26 August 2024

Tas Labor

At this point, Labor are the only adults in the room.

Our focus is squarely on the economy and providing confidence for businesses and workers. We will continue to act responsibly in Parliament and in Tasmania’s best interests.

Jeremy Rockliff is a nice enough guy, but this is getting beyond a joke. He took Tasmania to an election more than a year early, saying it was all about restoring stability and certainty. Instead, he has completely lost control of his minority government, and nothing is getting done.

The new Spirits project has become the biggest infrastructure stuff up in Tasmania’s history. It is emblematic of what happens when a failing government is propped up by unstable and chaotic independents.

Now Michael Ferguson has been forced to resign his portfolio as Minister for Infrastructure, prompting a cabinet reshuffle just four months into the minority government’s term.

It is a stunning admission of failure from Michael Ferguson in yet another key portfolio.

But as Treasurer Michael Ferguson remains as one of the Shareholder Ministers overseeing TT-Line and TasPorts. His resignation as Infrastructure Minister has done nothing to get this critical economic project back on track.

And it begs the question – if his Spirits stuff up is justification for losing his infrastructure portfolio, shouldn’t the budget disaster he’s created see him held accountable in his Treasury portfolio too?

All of this chaos can’t be good for Tasmania. Jeremy Rockliff urgently needs to regain control of his government and start delivering for Tasmanians.

Dean Winter MP

Labor Leader

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