Tasmania’s Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson will hand over his position following the recent debacle surrounding the delayed arrival of the state’s new Spirit of Tasmania ferries.
In a statement on Monday, Ferguson said he had spoken with Premier Jeremy Rockliff and recommended that he undertake a reshuffle.
“I now believe this is the only way to end the blame game once and for all and allow the right people to focus on the solution in a stable parliament,” he said.
“Tasmanians are excited by the coming new Spirits but are rightfully confused and disappointed that the necessary berthing infrastructure has not been adequately prepared in proper time.”
The new ferries, originally scheduled to begin operating in 2024, will now not arrive until the end of the year at the earliest.
Ferguson blamed the delays on “actions taken during caretaker” and said he had provided the Parliamentary Accounts Committee with details regarding the handling of the project.
“My team and I truly tried to keep the project on track, but it proved impossible,” he said.
“In the absence of the company owning up to this profoundly disappointing situation, as the former Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and current Minister for Infrastructure, I will.”
“I am so grateful to have managed the billions in new infrastructure investment that has been delivered by our Liberal Government since 2019.”
Opposition Labor leader Dean Winter said simply “shuffling the deck chairs” does not solve the problem.
Yesterday, Eric Abetz and Michael Ferguson were the shareholder ministers for TT Line. After the resignation, they remain the shareholder ministers for TT Line. Nothing has changed and this won’t go away just because of his announcement,” Winter said.
“We need to get to the bottom of what’s happened with this project. The Public Accounts Committee needs to continue to do its work.”
“The portfolio of infrastructure is not responsible for the TT Line. The portfolio for infrastructure does not help resolve this crisis.”
“The same person who put us in this mess remains one of the people in charge of fixing it.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Ferguson will continue as Deputy Premier and Treasurer, while taking on the portfolio of Small Business and Consumer Affairs from Minister Madeleine Ogilvie.
Ogilvie will move to the Ministry of Science and Technology portfolio.
