The former chairman of TT-Line has lashed the Tasmanian Government for showing an “appalling lack of support” during the troubled construction of the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries.
Appearing before a parliamentary inquiry in Hobart on Tuesday, Michael Grainger said he had repeatedly raised concerns about the project’s financial stability with the government.
Grainger, who was asked to leave his role earlier this year, says he gave multiple warnings about the difficulties faced by Finnish shipbuilder RMC.
“I worked with six premiers and 10 government ministers from both sides of parliament and have never witnessed such an appalling lack of support from government as experienced over the previous 12 months,” he said.
He claimed he first told former Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson about RMC’s financial struggles in October last year and again in January, requesting additional funding to ensure the project’s completion.
However, Ferguson told parliament he only learned about the severity of the problems after the election was called in February.
The public was informed of the $80 million over-contract payment after the state election in March.
Grainger also blamed TasPorts for obstructing the development of the new berths in Devonport, claiming the company’s ‘lack of support’ had made it impossible to meet the project’s requirements.
“We made it clear to our shareholder Minister back in 2022 that we remain sceptical of the ability to complete our requirements due to the lack of support from TasPorts,” he said.
Grainger also reportedly warned Ferguson that TasPorts was the project’s biggest risk and that the ferries might have to be brought to Hobart and anchored in the Derwent.
Ferguson allegedly responded by telling Grainger to ‘learn to play in the sandpit with TasPorts’.
The two new Spirit of Tasmania ferries represent the largest infrastructure project in Tasmania’s history.
The project has been plagued by delays, cost overruns and problems with the berths in Devonport.
