Media Release

Tasmanian Liberal Leader

WILL HODGMAN, MHA

Wednesday June 14, 2006

More secret deals revealed

The Premier has today admitted the government signed a secret deal just before the election was called that appears to give a company with strong Labor ties a monopoly to accredit builders.

The Premier has told State Parliament today a deal was signed between the government and Tasmanian Compliance Corporation in the early part of the year, when he would have known the day of the state election.

But the Premier and the Deputy Premier now appear to be telling different stories about the nature of the deal, particularly as it relates to compensation.

That’s why it should be released for public scrutiny, so taxpayers can understand:

· exactly when it was signed;

· whether it is designed to protect TCC’s current monopoly; and

· what references are made to the issue of compensation

Mr Hodgman said he was alarmed by reports that the deal protects TCC’s monopoly status – given that the Building Act clearly allows other players to enter the market, both now, and when expressions of interest were first called by the government in 2003.*

“The Premier indicated this morning that discussions about the deal were continuing early this year, which means the date of it being finalised must have been very close to the election,” Mr Hodgman said.

“This cannot be sheer coincidence.

“The MoU also appears to have come about after situation where TCC’s monopoly had been challenged by a second player wanting to enter the market – which is clearly allowed under the Act – but which the Minister declined to authorise, despite saying it met all the relevant requirements.

“These are very disturbing developments that haven’t been explained satisfactorily by the government and which were not explained at all by the Deputy Premier, Bryan Green.”

Mr Hodgman said protection of TCC’s monopoly status, if true, would also come despite the government being well aware of concerns about the excessive fees charged by TCC, and the Deputy Premier Bryan Green admitting on ABC Radio that there had “been issues with respect to (service) delivery” by TCC.

The Premier needs to explain why taxpayers were never informed of the MoU, and the ramifications for taxpayers under the MoU of the government not formalising the deal as a Cabinet decision.

* Building Act 2000: The Minister may authorise more than one body to be an authorised body for accrediting a specified category of building practitioner.

Earlier: Labor mates