Pic: Thomas Moore
The Tasmanian Greens today said that Walker Corporation must not be allowed to avoid paying debts it knowingly incurred and still owes to the Department of Justice over its failed Ralphs Bay development proposal.
Greens Planning spokesperson Tim Morris MP today raised issue of Walker Corporation’s outstanding debt in the Parliament, with the Attorney General revealing that Walker Corporation still owed the Department $721,000.
“This development proposal, if approved, would have largely destroyed Ralphs Bay, and now it appears that the developer is shirking their debt to the Tasmanian taxpayer,” Mr Morris said.
“Walker Corp doesn’t appear to have made a single payment on its debt over the last 12 months, and there needs to be a much greater effort by the Department of Justice to recover the money.”
“To add insult to the injury inflicted on the Lauderdale community, Walker Corporation is now treating the Tasmanian community with contempt by shirking their responsibility to pay their costs.”
“It’s about time the Minister set the example for other developers who put forward inappropriate development proposals by making Walker Corp pay their outstanding debt to the Tasmanian taxpayers,” Mr Morris said.
• WALKER CORP DODGING DEBTS AS OWNER EARNS $1.7 BILLION
Where is Tassie’s Money, Mr Walker?
Tim Morris MP
Greens Treasury Spokesperson
Thursday, 17 May 2012
The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Walker Corporation to explain why it continued to shirk its debts to the State, which it knowingly incurred for its Ralphs Bay proposal, while the head of the company Lang Walker was earning in an estimated $1.7 billion last year.
Greens Planning spokesperson Tim Morris MP today raised issue of Walker Corporation’s outstanding debt in State Parliament, following the Attorney General’s revelation this week that Walker Corporation still owed the Department $721,000.
“When Walker Corporation sought assessment of the development proposal they knew that they would be responsible for paying the costs of the assessment,” Mr Morris said.
“For two years Walker Corporation has failed to pay debts owed the State of Tasmania totalling nearly three quarters of a million dollars, thanks to the divisive Lauderdale Quay project.”
“Recent reports suggest that Mr Walker was worth an estimated $1.7 billion last year, and currently plans to build up to 400 houses on newly acquired land in the Hunter Valley, in a project worth more than $200 million. The $721,000 owing to Tasmania is chicken-feed in comparison.” [1]
“Mr Walker and the company he owns clearly have plenty of money in the bank, and yet the company continues to get away with non-payment.”
“Anyone else in the community that refuses to pay a bill goes straight into the debt collector, and yet here we are two years later and all the Walker Corporation has received is a friendly reminder from the Minister.”
“It’s an insult to the Tasmanian taxpayer,” Mr Morris said.
[1] “Walker capitalises on Hunter Valley coalmining”, Financial Review, Thursday 17 May 2012, p 57.
