Land acquisition Bill submitted for cable car project

Tasmanians to hear from the Labor Party on its position in relation to poker machines, but it was “a bit rich” of the Liberals to position themselves on the “high moral ground” on the issue.

However, Ms White said the idea was not Labor policy.

In her speech, Ms White said Labor was genuinely participating in the Joint Select Committee’s Future Gaming Markets inquiry established by the Government, which is due to report within weeks.

The move to suspend standing orders was a “complete waste of the Parliament’s time”, she said.

“I am really flattered … that the Government just wants to hear from me today,” she said.

“This is a stupid stunt pulled by the Government, and I’m not going to indulge you any further.”

Ms White later said the buy back suggestion had been raised in one of the submissions to the pokies inquiry and Labor had consulted stakeholders on the submissions.

Ms White did rule out the figure of $1 million, which she said was excessive.

She said it would be unfair to rule ideas in or out before the inquiry released its recommendations.

“We are participating in a process, the process was established by the Government, and I think they would criticise us if we weren’t genuinely engaging in that process,” she said. THE State Government has tabled the legislation aimed at paving they way for a cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

State Growth Minister Matthew Groom yesterday submitted the legislation — to allow the acquisition of land on the mountain to assist the Mount Wellington Cableway Company in preparing a development application — to the House of Assembly. A draft of the legislation was publicly released in July and, despite almost 850 individuals and organisations making submissions, there were no substantial changes to the final copy — although kunanyi has been added to the title.

Mr Groom said the legislation would facilitate sustainable and sensible tourism on the mountain. “This legislation represents the most significant step forward in allowing the public to have their say on this important project in more than 100 years,” he said.

“This project is another important marker in taking tourism in Tasmania to the next level.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said her party would not vote for the legislation.

“All it is at the end of the day is a single piece of legislation that formalises a corrupted process,” she said.

Labor leader Rebecca White said the State Opposition supported alternative means of transport on kunanyi/Mt Wellington — but the project should be put out to tender.