Hidding misleads over $80 million TT-Line raid

 Embarrassing performance from Infrastructure Minister
 Hidding contradicted by TT-Line chair over Spirit replacements
 $80 million raided to create dodgy surplus

Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding’s embarrassing and misleading performance in this morning’s TT-Line scrutiny hearing has confirmed the Government’s $80 million dividend raid is a sham.

Labor Leader Bryan Green said the Minister was directly contradicted by the TT-Line chair.

“Rene Hidding made a fool of himself,” Mr Green said.

“In trying to justify the $80 million dividend raid, he falsely suggested the previous government had told TT-Line that it needed to entirely fund the replacement of the vessels.

“The Minister was directly contradicted by TT-Line chair Mike Grainger who couldn’t recall any direction of that type.

“The fact is Rene Hidding misled the committee to try and justify why the Government raided $80 million from TT-Line to create a dodgy surplus.

“Without the $80 million, the Treasurer’s surplus evaporates.

“First the Liberals tried to force a $75 million dividend out of Hydro and plunged the state into an energy crisis. When that failed they raided TT-Line.

“Rene Hidding couldn’t even say where in the budget the $80 million was going to sit.

“It’s been a sham from the start and the Minister’s performance today cemented it.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader