Coordinator-General missing in action as patrol boat deal is scuttled

Another massive blow to manufacturing in Tasmania calls into question the role and performance of the Coordinator-General.

Shadow Treasurer Scott Bacon said news that a Tasmanian consortium’s bid to build 21 new patrol boats has been rejected is extremely disappointing.

“The Premier put his government at the centre of this bid and promised to lobby on behalf of the consortium,” Mr Bacon said.

“To learn that the bid has been rejected is a huge blow to manufacturing in Tasmania.

“But while the public only learnt of the unsuccessful bid this morning, the Government has been sitting on the information for more than two weeks.

“Clearly the Government didn’t want the bad news ruining the last session of parliament.

“It comes just a day after we learned 100 jobs are set to go from the Bradken foundry in Launceston.

“What is the Government’s supposedly “high-powered” Coordinator-General doing?

“What role did he have assisting the consortium with its bid for the patrol boat contract?

“He has been in the position at the same time as we’ve seen jobs go at Caterpillar, Cadbury and now Bradken.

“The Government is paying him half a million dollars a year but so far we’ve seen no results, in fact we’ve lost key jobs in manufacturing right across the state.

“Tasmania’s Liberal MPs need to explain what they did to fight for the patrol boats to be built in Tasmania.

“Was a political decision made not to award the contract to Tasmania?”
Scott Bacon MP Shadow Treasurer