Labor Says Yes to Prison, No to Westbury Site

Jen Butler MP, Labor Member for Lyons, 31 March 2021

Northern Prison will not go ahead at Westbury under Labor

Labor is committed to building the northern prison but will not proceed with the Liberals’ proposed site at Birralee Road, Westbury.

Labor Member for Lyons Jen Butler said it was critical the development involved close community consultation and the full release of detail before a new site is chosen.

“The Liberals have failed to progress this important project in the past three years and have only succeeded in dividing the community,” Ms Butler said.

“No detailed plans have been released, no development application lodged and not a single job has been created.

“While we are committed to progressing this project in Government, we do not support it being built at Westbury or at the proposed site on Birralee Road.

“It is not feasible that this development go ahead at the site on Birralee Road – chosen by the Liberals without any community consultation – due to the unknown costs associated with that site and the risk to the taxpayer.

“Labor will be looking at alternative sites following a full public consultation process, with all facts being released to the public before a new site is chosen.

“Like many, many other important infrastructure projects, the northern prison is another victim of the Gutwein Government’s failure to deliver building projects and create jobs.

“This project means critical jobs in the north and, unlike the Liberals, Labor will get it right.”

Media release – Tasmanian Liberals, 31 March 2021

White’s prison (no) plan to put 1000 jobs on ice

Labor has no plan for a Northern Regional Prison other than to crabwalk away from it, putting 1000 jobs on ice.

The Northern Regional Prison is an important part of our plan to Secure Tasmania’s Future as it will create jobs and secure $500 million in economic activity for the region, when it will be needed most as we continue to recover from COVID-19.

Importantly, we have consulted extensively and the Project remains on track, the due diligence for planning is well underway and, if we are re-elected, we are committed to delivering it.

By crabwalking away from it, Ms White is putting thousands of jobs and millions of economic activity at risk, demonstrating yet again that she is indecisive and simply can’t make decisions that will benefit our State.

Media release – Westbury Region Against the Prison, 31 March 2021

WRAP welcomes Labor shift on prison

WRAP welcomes Labor’s announcement that it does not support the Northern Prison at Westbury or at the new proposed site on the nature reserve at Birralee Road.

“Whilst it’s welcome, it’s far more overdue than we would have liked. The reserve should have been subjected to scrutiny and criticism from Labor straight after it was announced in June last year. But late is better than never.

We now need Labor to use every single opportunity in the lead up to the election to focus on the outrageous costs inevitably associated with this ridiculous proposal. In a time where our post JobKeeper economy is about to cast Tasmanians into crisis, not a dollar can be spared.

The Liberal government is clearly trying to ensure that the prison gets no oxygen in the lead up to the election.

Despite their silence, we know that they are worried about what the local booths will show come election day. Meander Valley is clearly very important to the Liberal Party, more important than anywhere else in Lyons. Why else would 4 out of 6 of their candidates be from the Meander Valley?

This stacking of Liberal candidates in the Meander Valley is a blatant attempt to gather votes for the party to give the false impression that there is no shift away from the government because of the prison.

It’s pretty appalling that Liberal voters in the rest of Lyons have no one to represent their towns, all because of this prison.

This Government is desperate to get this prison across the line in the Meander Valley, and in the Meander Valley alone.”

See also the statements issued yesterday – Premier Forgot the Prison – Tasmanian Times