Ferry row sparks stern rebukes
OPPOSITION parties have clashed during a rowdy Question Time in Parliament over the potential movement of the Spirit of Tasmania ferry berth from Melbourne’s Station Pier to Geelong.
Premier Peter Gutwein on Wednesday accused VicPorts of “price gouging” and said this was behind the potential move.
The issue was high on the agenda for Labor yesterday, with Opposition Leader Rebecca White expressing concerns about the impact to Spirit of Tasmania customers.
Ms White cited comments from Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey, who said it was a “significant concern” to the business community and offered “massive floating billboards to our state in the heart of Melbourne”.
Ms White accused Mr Gutwein of keeping the development a secret from Spirit of Tasmania users.
Mr Gutwein denied that was the case, saying issues concerning TT-Line were raised during Government Business Enterprise scrutiny hearings in December.
“All I can discern from that question is that they have spent the last three months dealing with their own internal troubles,’’ he said.
Mr Gutwein’s barb about the Labor leadership and David O’Byrne’s supposed ambitions for the top job sparked a rowdy response from opposition members.
Ms White said the government had failed to consult with industry on the TT-Line issue, and had not mentioned the ships may go to Geelong.
Mr Gutwein conceded new Spirit of Tasmania ferries would require upgrades at the Tasmanian and Victorian docks. A TT-Line spokesman said the company had a lease at Station Pier, Port Melbourne until 2022.
On several occasions during a fiery Question Time, Speaker Sue Hickey had to call the House of Assembly to order. In one instance, she called the behaviour “chaotic”, “unparliamentary”, “undignified” and “not respectful”.