Labor leader Dean Winter has blasted Premier Jeremy Rockliff over his demand to sign off on the state’s multibillion-dollar Marinus Link project by 9am tomorrow, labelling the ultimatum “unreasonable and reckless”.
Rockliff set the deadline earlier today, just 24 hours after crossbench MPs were handed a ‘document dump’ of files on the massive energy project.
Speaking on the north-west coast on Wednesday, Winter accused the Premier of ‘bullying tactics’, saying he had been given only hours to trawl through thousands of pages.
“This morning I received a letter from Jeremy Rockliff demanding that I give full endorsement to more than 1,000 pages of materials and years of work within 24 hours,” Winter said.
“Let me be clear, I won’t be bullied into making a decision like that quickly.”
“This is one of the most important decisions that Tasmania will make and I can’t make that with the information I have and the time that I’ve been given.”
Labor says the stoush is unlikely to stop the Liberals from pushing ahead with the project.
But the Liberals argue caretaker conventions mean Labor’s agreement is required for the government to accept the Commonwealth’s offer, as the incoming government is not confirmed because Labor has not yet conceded.
Winter said Labor supports Marinus Link in principle, but the ‘artificial’ deadline makes proper scrutiny impossible.
He said the single briefing from departmental officials on Tuesday was nowhere near enough to be considered proper consultation.
“I support Project Marinus and so does Tasmanian Labor but I won’t be bullied into making a decision this important within 24 hours,” he said.
“Jeremy Rockliff has had this report now for months … he could’ve briefed us at any time … and he chose to wait until the last minute.”
“And then he has the arrogance to demand that Labor immediately sign up to this. I can’t sign up to this unless I know it’s in Tasmania’s best interest and I need more than 24 hours to do that.”
In his letter to Winter this morning, Rockliff said Labor had yesterday been given access to the same information provided to Cabinet.
“I understand that you are dissatisfied with the briefing and materials, although note that you have not requested anything subsequent,” Rockliff wrote.
The premier stressed the federal government had confirmed no further delays would be allowed beyond the August 2 deadline.
“I therefore write pursuant to the Caretaker Conventions to seek your agreement to proceed to make a positive Tasmanian Marinus FID [Final Investment Decision],” he said.
“To progress in a timely manner, I request your response by 9am, Thursday, 31 July 2025.”
