Media release – Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader, Shadow Minister for Tourism & Hospitality, 16 October 2024
Rockliff refuses to rule out leasing new Spirits overseas
Premier Rockliff has sensationally refused to rule out leasing the new Spirits ships and allowing them to operate in another country until July 2026 – missing the next two Tasmanian summers.
If the ships are leased to another country, the Tasmanian taxpayers have effectively been forced to support another country’s tourism and hospitality industry while their own suffers through the worst trading conditions they’ve faced in years.
The tourism industry was forced to find out through the media that the new Spirits won’t be arriving this summer, and now they might have to watch them sailing elsewhere too.
Not only is the project five years delayed, $500 million over budget, with no berth constructed, but the billion-dollar ships might not even be new by the time they arrive.
Premier Rockliff needs to immediately rule out leasing our new Spirits overseas.
Media release – Shane Broad MP, Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly, 16 October 2024
Lost Lambies appear to confirm Liberals’ plan to lease new Spirits
The former Jacqui Lambie Network turned independents Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland have sided with the Liberals yet again.
It’s been a rough week for the duo. They threw their support behind disgraced former Minister Michael Ferguson after his fate had already been sealed, and now they are cheerleading a Liberals’ policy that will deliver a slap in the face to Tasmania’s tourism and hospitality sector – leasing the new Spirits to another country for the next two summers.
If the ships are leased to another country, the Tasmanian taxpayers have spent $1 billion to support another country’s tourism and hospitality industry while our own suffers through the worst trading conditions they’ve faced in years.
Not only is the project five years delayed, $500 million over budget, with no berth constructed, but the billion-dollar ships might not even be new by the time they arrive. Premier Rockliff needs to immediately rule out leasing our new Spirits overseas.
When they were elected, I wonder if Tasmanians knew they were getting two more Liberals?
Media release – independents Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland, 16 October 2024
INDEPENDENTS MORE OPEN-MINDED THAN LABOR ON SPIRITS LEASING OPTION
Northern independents Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland believe all options need to be explored as the state tries to get the Spirits replacement project back on track.
“No one is happy with the position we find ourselves in, but we have to make the best of a bad situation,” Mrs Beswick said.
“Obviously, we want the port infrastructure finished as soon as possible, but if there are significant delays we should explore all options.
“Any leasing arrangement would have to be clearly in Tasmania’s best-interests, but unlike Labor we have an open-mind.
“Any lease would need to come with strict caveats, including access to the vessel as soon as the berth is ready.
“We’d also need guarantees that the vessel was returned in mint condition.
“But leasing may well turn out to be a better option than having one or both vessels sit idle.”
Bass MP Rebekah Pentland says the two independents will be guided by those with skin in the game.
“The Spirit saga has cost Tasmania’s economy an enormous amount of money, if there is a way to recoup some revenue it should be explored.
“We’ll be consulting widely with tourism and hospitality stakeholders to get a sense of the best way forward.
“Our focus is extracting the best possible outcome from a disastrous situation.”
