Media Release – Bec Thomas MLC, Independent Member for Elwick, 17 February 2026
Wilkinson’s Point Revelations Reinforce MLCs Long-standing Concerns About Process and Transparency
Independent Member for Elwick, Bec Thomas MLC, today reiterated her call for the sale of Wilkinsons Point to be stopped until the State Government can demonstrate that a legitimate disposal process has been followed and is in the best interests of Tasmanians.
She said today’s media coverage confirms why she has consistently raised concerns about the proposed sale of public land at Wilkinsons Point, having asked questions in February last year after the Premier publicly announced the Government had agreed to sell the Crown Land to the LK Group, despite the deal not being finalised.
“The Premier’s statement created the clear impression for Tasmanians that this was a done deal, when in actual fact it was not,” Ms Thomas said.
“When I subsequently sought a formal briefing, the Secretary of the Department of State Growth, Craig Limkin, assured me the proposal was being progressed through a legitimate pathway – the Government’s unsolicited proposal process.
“However, the Auditor-General later found that not even the very first step of that process – consultation with the Coordinator-General – had been followed, and further questioning revealed that parties were yet to agree on a masterplan for the site.”
Ms Thomas said these findings align with concerns she has repeatedly raised in Parliament over the past year about the absence of due process, transparency and governance.
“I have consistently said the Government should not proceed with any sale of Wilkinson’s Point until it can demonstrate that a legitimate land disposal process has been followed and that the proposal is clearly in the best interests of Tasmanians.
“The Auditor-General’s report highlighted serious shortcomings, including the absence of a business case, inadequate assessment of risks, and failure to follow due process and advice.”
Ms Thomas said today’s reporting, alongside those findings, raises serious questions about how this matter has been handled.
“Is this incompetence, secrecy, or a combination of both?
“Tasmanians deserve better from both their elected leaders and the highly paid state service executives entrusted with managing public assets.”
Ms Thomas reiterated she is not opposed to the appropriate development of Wilkinson’s Point, which has real potential to be an economic and social boon for Glenorchy community and Greater Hobart.
“I support the development of Wilkinson’s Point, but it is valuable public land. Decisions about its future must be made lawfully and transparently – not through shortcuts or secrecy.
Ms Thomas said she will again write to the Premier asking that he immediately:
- Release the key advice that informed Cabinet’s approach to Wilkinson’s Point, including advice about risks, liabilities, and projected costs to Government;
- Confirm the current status of the legislated land sale process, including whether a master plan has been agreed and whether any sale documentation exists; and
- Pause negotiations until the public can be assured the proposed sale and its terms are legally sound and demonstrably in the public interest.
“I once again call on the Premier to release the key advice underpinning this proposal, confirm the current status of the legislated land sale process, and clarify whether any agreement or draft agreement exists.
“Tasmanians have seen what happens when major deals are stitched up without transparency. Wilkinson’s Point must not become another example of Government secrecy, blurred accountability, and taxpayer risk.
“Until the Government can demonstrate that proper process has been followed, negotiations should be paused,” Ms Thomas said.
Media Release – Dean Winter MP, Shadow Treasurer, 17 February 2026
Rockliff Must Explain Dodgy Wilkinsons Point Deal
Jeremy Rockliff has serious questions to answer after ignoring clear advice that his Wilkinsons Point deal could cost Tasmanian taxpayers up to $100 million – with no guarantee anything will even be built. So far, we know:
- Multiple departments told him to stop negotiations and take the land to the open market. Instead, he chose to push ahead with a closed-door deal with an interstate billionaire.
- The Premier’s office released the Valuer-General’s valuation, despite being explicitly told not to.
- Minister Ellis and Department of State Growth staff refused to answer simple questions about who or why the valuation was shared during estimates
- The Government refused to release important documents, blocking the Auditor-General from making potential findings
Jeremy Rockliff must now answer very serious questions.
Why is the Premier prepared to risk $100 million of public money without testing the market?
Why is he bypassing an open, competitive process that could deliver a better deal for Tasmanians?
Why did he give a confidential valuation to a prospective purchaser, giving them an advantage? Why is a mainland billionaire being given treatment that local proponents would never receive?
The Auditor-General has already issued a scathing report about this process, and we know the Premier ignored direct warnings from his own department and the Valuer-General and pressed on anyway.
Tasmanians expect their assets to be managed in the public interest, not sold off behind closed doors with all the risk carried by taxpayers.
Tasmanians deserve answers and full transparency from the Premier.
Media Release – Tabatha Badger MP, Greens Public Land Spokesperson, 17 February 2026
Premier Must Answer Wilkinson Point Sale Questions
Reports that Premier Rockliff continued negotiations with LK Group on the sale of land at Wilkinsons Point against the advice of two government departments is troubling news.
Wilkinsons Point is prime public land which should have been negotiated to be utilised in the best public interest, not flogged off in a poorly negotiated arrangement that is now set to cost Tasmanians money we can’t afford to lose.
Premier Rockliff has serious questions he needs to answer. Why did he proceed with negotiations on selling Wilkinsons Point, despite warnings from multiple government departments that there was no guarantee the site would be developed, and that the activation of the site would be incredibly costly to the taxpayer amidst a Liberal driven budget disaster?
Where are negotiations for the sale of the site currently at? Have any financial promises been made to the developer, and how much will this really cost Tasmanians? And how will he ensure that the public benefits from the sale of this land?
The Tasmanian public deserves to know exactly what’s happening with the sale of their public land at Wilkinsons Point, and that proceeding with the Premier’s deal is in their best interests – after all, they’re the ones footing the bill.
Media Release – Josh Willie MP, Labor Leader, 18 February 2026
Rockliff Must Start Providing Better Answers About His Secret Negotiation with Mainland Billionaire
Premier Rockliff must come clean on the murky circumstances surrounding the proposed sale of Wilkinsons Point.
The Premier is pushing ahead with his secret negotiation despite clear advice from multiple government departments to stop negotiations and take the land to the open market, warning Tasmanians could be on the hook for costs up to $100, with no guarantee anything will be built.
Its raised serious questions about transparency, process, and risk – and the Premier’s response so far doesn’t cut the mustard.
This Parliament has shown there is an appetite to hold the Government to account, last year censuring Minister Duigan for the way he treated North Launceston Football Club. Tasmanians expect decisions about public land to be made in the open, not behind closed doors.
Parks Minister, Nick Duigan, washed his hands of the issue, claiming it wasn’t his responsibility. Business & Industry Minister, Felix Ellis, won’t go near it with a ten-foot pole.
That tells you everything.
Premier Rockliff is right in the thick of this – and he is the one who must start providing proper answers to these serious questions.
In a minority Parliament, the Premier cannot simply brush these concerns aside. This is Tasmanian taxpayer money. If Tasmanians and the Parliament are not satisfied with his conduct, there are a range of options available to hold him to account.
- Why did he ignore his own department’s advice?
- Why wasn’t the market tested to find the best deal for Tasmania?
- Why are Tasmanians carrying all the risk?
Tasmanians deserve answers – and they deserve transparency.
Media Release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 3 March 2026
Unlocking Dowsing Point
The redevelopment of Wilkinson’s Point is the key to unlocking the potential of the adjoining land at Dowsing Point.
Dowsing Point represents one of the most significant opportunities we have to address Tasmania’s growing housing needs.
For decades, this area has been tied up in Commonwealth Defence holdings, limiting its potential and preventing us from using well located land to support Tasmanian families.
Today, that changes.
We are calling on the Commonwealth to transition surplus Defence land at Dowsing Point into productive community use.
By unlocking this land, we can open the door to new housing, new community spaces, and new opportunities for growth.
Our plan is to ensure that once this land is released, it is developed thoughtfully and sustainably.
We will deliver the infrastructure, services, and planning certainty needed to create a vibrant, well connected neighbourhood that supports families and strengthens our broader housing supply.
This is about taking practical action. It’s about using land smarter.
And it’s about ensuring more Tasmanians have a secure place to call home.
Dowsing Point can and should play a key role in Tasmania’s housing future – and today, we take an important step toward making that future real.
Media Release – Tabatha Badger MP, Greens Public Lands spokesperson, 3 March 2026
Dowsing Point Support Welcome, But Questions Remain
The Greens welcome the Liberals’ support for keeping the public Defence land at Dowsing Point in public hands. But questions remain around other defence land sales and the deals the Premier has made on other public land at Wilkinsons Point.
The Greens have been calling for the land at Dowsing Point to be used in the public benefit and not sold to the highest bidder since its sale was announced by the Federal Government, and we welcome the Liberals doing the same. We hope to receive regular updates from the Liberal Government on their progress.
Other parcels of culturally and environmentally significant public Defence land earmarked to be sold should also be protected by the Liberals. We wrote to relevant Ministers for Housing, Planning, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Acting Minister for Parks, urging them to proactively be collaborative with the Federal Government to secure the best use of Defence land for future generations of Tasmanians.
While we warmly welcome Minister Archer’s indication in correspondence with the Greens that she is open to land returns at Fort Direction, Minister Ogilvie’s reply left it unclear if she was aware the land was even being divested.
The positive step forward at Dowsing Point also doesn’t cover up the fact the Premier ignored the advice of two government departments against the sale of public land at Wilkinsons Point. Tasmanians won’t buy the Liberals’ spin that any deals made at Wilkinsons Point were done to assist Dowsing Point development – especially when they were made prior to the Federal Government’s announcements.
The Premier needs to reassure Tasmanians how he will ensure the public will benefit from any use of the land at Wilkinsons Point, and inform the community of the current status of the sale. What financial promises has the Premier made to the developer, and how much has he signed Tasmanians up for? Will his commitments even benefit the public?
Wilkinsons Point is public land, and it should be used to the community’s benefit.
