Labor has failed to meet the 9am deadline to endorse the multibillion-dollar Marinus Link project.
Leader Dean Winter said the ultimatum, delivered yesterday with less than 24 hours’ notice by Premier Jeremy Rockliff, was “reckless and irresponsible”.
Winter said he was not ruling out supporting the project, but that he had been given no real chance to assess a business case of more than 1,000 pages, which has been kept “under lock and key” since May.
“I’m just sad that this is how this has happened,” Winter said.
“This is a project that actually had bipartisan support across the parliament. This is a project that’s got a lot of opportunity.”
“Yes, it’s got risks to it as well. But this is not the way the caretaker government is supposed to work.”
Independent and Labor MPs were granted around 90 minutes this week to confidentially view the business case under strict conditions and without being allowed to take any documents.
“I desperately wish that Jeremy Rockliff had taken Labor along with him on this journey. I think we could have worked with him along the decision-making process,” Winter said.
“But sending us a letter telling us that in 23 hours we are required to make a decision without adequate information, that’s not how this is supposed to work.”
Crossbench MPs are also furious, with independents Craig Garland, Peter George and Kristie Johnston earlier this week blasting the government’s handling of the issue.
Winter has urged the premier to release the full business case today. “If there’s nothing to hide, then why is he hiding it?” he said.
Premier Rockliff is expected to respond on Marinus this afternoon.
