Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to confirm whether his government has a business case for its flagship TasInsure policy, prompting accusations he misled voters during the election campaign.
Under questioning in parliament on Wednesday, Rockliff repeatedly dodged direct questions about whether planning documents existed for the proposed government-run insurance scheme.
Labor leader Josh Willie pointed to contradictions in the premier’s remarks, noting TasInsure was a central Liberal promise during the most recent state election.
In a leaders’ debate on Sky, Rockliff insisted a business case had been prepared but said he would not ‘give it away’ as it could tip off commercial rivals.
Yet in parliament he later said he was still waiting on Treasury advice on the policy.
“Do you have a business case for TasInsure or not?” Willie asked.
Rockliff avoided giving a yes or no answer, arguing the policy came from “listening to Tasmanians” rather than Treasury analysis.
“I don’t need Treasury to come up with a policy,” he said.
He defended TasInsure as a necessary response to the current insurance situation, citing a West Coast small business owner whose premiums had jumped 300% in five years.
“I look forward to a comprehensive business case. I look forward to the policies being scrutinised by the public service and of course Treasury will provide that advice,” Rockliff said.
“The case has been made for acting on this issue.”
TasInsure would see the Tasmanian government compete with private insurers to offer more affordable cover for households and small businesses.
Rockliff criticised the insurance industry for “reaping six billion dollars worth of profit” nationally while Tasmanians struggled with unaffordable premiums.
However, Willie warned against “baseless claims that fill Tasmanians with false hope while simultaneously placing the state’s financial position at even greater risk”.
