Two key crossbench MPs are furious with the caretaker state government and have accused it of ramming through the $6 billion Marinus Link energy project without proper scrutiny.
Marinus Link is an ambitious undersea cable project that would send Tasmanian renewable energy to the mainland.
Independents Peter George and Kristie Johnston say they were ambushed with thousands of pages of secret documents about the project during a scheduled briefing from department officials.
They say they were then given only hours to wade through the material on Tuesday – information that could lock Tasmania into the biggest infrastructure spend in its history.
MPs were also forced to sign confidentiality agreements under threat of legal action and were banned from taking photos or removing any of the documents.
The briefing came just days before the government is expected to sign off on its first major commitment. Marinus Link also faces a deadline to ‘issue notice to proceed’ by the end of August or risk losing a $1.07 billion contract.
The timing has particularly enraged George, who said the government should have shared the documents months ago.
He said it was not consultation but “a total disrespect for due process and a deliberate breach of caretaker conventions”.
“Just as I have been warned by other independent MPs, this is typical of the lack of respect and consultation shown by the Rockliff government over the past two administrations,” George said.
“It’s no way to approach minority government that Tasmanians expect to provide a constructive and stable parliament for the next four years.”
Clark independent Kristie Johnston said Marinus is a “high-risk investment” that should be paused until all the information is released publicly and there is enough time to properly scrutinise it.
“It is clear to me why Marinus Link was hidden away during the election campaign by the caretaker Liberal Government. It would have sunk them,” she said.
“I call on Labor to stand up for Tasmanians and demand no final investment decision is made until information has been released publicly and there has been adequate time for consultation with the community and stakeholders.”
A government spokesperson said proper protocols had been followed after Labor also made accusations of caretaker conventions being broken.
The spokesperson said Labor MPs were offered their own 2.5-hour briefing, although some chose not to attend.
“All caretaker protocols are being observed and the relevant documentation will be released when a final investment decision is made,” they said.
