Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader
Another day, another publicly-owned Tasmanian treasure is up for sale under the Liberals’ privatisation agenda. The Treasury Building, privatising an island in the World Heritage Area, the pinnacle of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, 29,000ha of public plantation forests – and now Elizabeth Street Pier.
No conversation has been had with Tasmanians about the sale of the Elizabeth Street Pier.
The way the owners of the Pier – the people of Tasmania – find out, is when it’s splashed across the front page of the paper.
The Treasurer might as well set up ‘Tas Inc Real Estate’, with a shingle outside the Office of the Coordinator General to let the world know he’s selling Tasmania’s public assets, because that’s exactly how it happens.
The Tasmanian people, the owners of the assets on the table, should be given a say on any sales. Presenting it as a fait accompli is bad practice and an insult to the people of Tasmania.
These treasures are not the Treasurer’s to sell. They belong to Tasmanians.
The Pier fits into a fabric of privatisation story under the Hodgman Government. Whether it’s the Treasury Building, the mountain, our planation estate, Parks and World Heritage Area – or the Elizabeth Street Pier – the Liberals know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Ian Hicks
November 20, 2018 at 07:23
Please remove your Liberal Grubby Hands from this and retain it in the People’s hands. This Icon and several others, belong to the People of Hobart!
TV Resident
November 20, 2018 at 08:24
I agree, Ian Hicks. These assets are not the treasurer’s to sell. The mere fact that all of these asset sales have been negotiated behind closed doors, with NO public consultation whatever, is a mockery of our DEMOCRACY. When the government of the day is willing to sell us out to the highest bidder, it just proves that government members of the day are lousy managers of publicly owned funds. We badly NEED an ICAC to ‘keep these bastards honest’.
Raylan
November 20, 2018 at 09:23
The article is dead right. Aside from this happening at all, it’s the WAY in which this and some other developments happen that really cause the frustration and anger. Like many other deeply unpopular government decisions, it’s a fairly safe bet that surprise, surprise, somebody well known to the government ie a significant $$ donor, will become the new owner.
A major new development, a super high-end luxury hotel and accommodation, and all catering for the 1%. Much like some of their federal parliament colleagues, the arrogance, zeal and righteousness with which some of these happen, is incredible.