The treasurer has declined to rule out further financial support for Spirit of Tasmania operator TT-Line, telling the opposition to wait for the May 21 state budget.
Treasurer Eric Abetz faced repeated questions during question time in parliament about whether TT-Line had sought a fresh bailout, an equity injection or other assistance.
“I’m not going to be ruling things in or out,” Abetz said.
He said that as far as he understood, the state-owned company had not written seeking a bailout, but did not address other forms of support.
Abetz defended TT-Line as critical infrastructure for the state’s exporters, tourism sector and families travelling across Bass Strait.
“This is not wasted money,” he said. “This is supporting fundamentally important infrastructure for our state.”
He also pointed to a new board and chief executive he said were starting to “kick goals” and changing the company’s culture.
Labor leader Josh Willie said the treasurer’s lack of detail pointed to another large bailout in the budget.
“Following more than a half a billion dollars’ worth of wasted money, it’s inevitable another taxpayer funded bailout is on the cards later this month,” Willie said in a statement.
“Tasmanians just don’t know how many hundreds of millions it will be.”
TT-Line received a $75 million bailout in November’s interim budget, after originally requesting $100 million.
Its borrowing limit was lifted by $400 million during the 2025 election campaign.
The auditor-general declared TT-Line insolvent in August 2025, a finding the board disputes, citing about $400 million in undrawn government-guaranteed debt and assets exceeding liabilities.
Abetz said berthing Spirit of Tasmania V in Leith, Scotland, was expected to cost about $840,000 a month, consistent with Spirit IV.
Both new ferries are due to begin Bass Strait services from October 31, 2026.
The state budget will be handed down on May 21.
