The Liberal Government’s overblown rhetoric about the role of the Coordinator General has been exposed.
It has been revealed that the Coordinator General has not met with the proponent of the $400 million Granville Harbour wind farm and is not involved in critical negotiations over the future of the Nyrstar zinc smelter.
It follows admissions in budget estimates earlier today that the Coordinator General had no formal role in facilitating power price negotiations between Bell Bay Aluminium, Hydro Tasmania and TasNetworks, despite the Government’s suggestions at the time.
Labor Leader Bryan Green said the Office of the Coordinator General had become an expensive white elephant.
“The Coordinator General’s office just seems to be riding on the coat tails of Government announcements. It was set up with the promise of attracting investment and creating jobs but has failed to deliver,” Mr Green said
“Tasmanians are right to question what value they are getting from the $13.5 million Coordinator General’s office.
“The fact that the Coordinator General has failed to meet with the proponents of a $400 million investment on Tasmania’s West Coast beggars belief.
“The Liberals are trying to pump up the Coordinator General’s tires to justify their election policy but so far he has only taken credit for the work of others.”
Embarrassingly, the other major role within the office, the Regulation Reduction Coordinator, has failed to cut a single piece of red tape, let alone the targeted 20 per cent.
The Budget papers cannot even measure progress against the target.
“Questions about the activities of the Coordinator General’s office are legitimate at a time when the Department of State Growth has suffered massive cuts to jobs and programs.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader
