What the Greens reckon:

Peg Putt MHA

Greens Opposition Leader

Friday, 2 June 2006

FIVE MONTHS OF SERIAL INCOMPETENCE FROM TT LINE MINISTERS

Minister Greens’ Misleading Impression Helped Labor and Himself at Election

The Tasmanian Greens today believe that a media briefing by the Chair of the TT Line has highlighted the lack of Ministerial interest and interaction with the TT Line over five months, and the preparedness of the Lennon government to imply a lift in the fortunes of Spirit III as they went to an election despite the absence of any such information.

Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA said that the then TT Line Minister, Bryan Green, had effectively misled voters to advantage his electoral fortunes when he implied that Spirit III was now O.K. two days before the election was called, but had not actually possessed any new information about its viability having not been in touch since December.

“Here we have a situation of serial Ministerial incompetence with disinterested, disengaged Minsters not bothering to contact TT Line over Spirit III’s fortunes for five whole months despite $65 million of taxpayers money having been injected into a rescue package,” Ms Putt said.

“Bryan Green gave a misleading impression that Spirit III now had a brighter looking future just days before the election was called, but as he had not been given any information on that specific issue it appears he had made up a story which advantaged himself as a Braddon member, and the Lennon government, to get in good with voters.”

“Jim Cox defied all reasonable expectations when for five long weeks after taking on Ministerial responsibility for the TT Line he didn’t bother to get in touch to find out how Spirit III was going.”

What the Libs reckon:

Tasmanian Liberal Leader

Will Hodgman, MHA

Friday, 2 June 2006

Premier fiddling whilst Rome burns

The Lennon Government is attempting to hide behind the TT Line Chairman and Board in a desperate attempt to limit damage over its mismanagement and deceit over the Sydney ferry, Spirit III.

“Yesterday, the Premier was forced to admit that the State Government had had at least 12 instances of contact with the TT Line between mid December and May 10, when he initially said that there had been none,” Tasmanian Liberal Leader, Will Hodgman said.

“Today, we see the Chairman of the TT Line, Denis Rogers, calling a media conference to explain matters that are clearly the responsibility of the State Government to detail to Tasmanians.

“Mr Rogers has provided information that the Premier and the stakeholder Minister, Jim Cox, have been desperately attempting to avoid giving in recent days.

“There is now way out for the government – either it knew about the ferry’s situation and mislead the public or it completely ignored the strong recommendations of the Auditor General in his June 2005 report on the TT Line when he said:

“…a basis for provision of regular performance information and timely advice of significant issues should be agreed between the Chairman of the Board and the Minister.”

“This episode is either a case of gross delinquency or it is total secrecy on the part of Premier Lennon, Mr Cox and Mr Green.

“Whichever way, it shows that they are unfit to hold the positions that they are in.”