MP to keep lobbying for a boat
FEDERAL MP Stuart Robert says he is disappointed the HMAS Darwin will not be scuttled off the Gold Coast to create a dive site and will instead go to Tasmania.
Mr Robert said the Federal Government had given up on Brisbane’s attempts to secure the HMAS Darwin for the Coast. “I have received a letter from the Minister for Defence Personnel, Darren Chester, confirming that we are no longer in the running for the warship,” Mr Robert said.
“The Federal Government is now negotiating with the Tasmanian Government to buy the ship after the Queensland Government went cold on the deal.”
Mr Robert laid the blame with the State Government for failing to submit an Expression Of Interest (EOI) for the Darwin. “I have been pushing and pushing for the Queensland Government to put its interest in writing,” he said. “It refused, so now the Gold Coast has lost out. We’ve missed the boat and I am so frustrated.”
When asked about the proposed underwater pyramid, Mr Robert said he would wait to see drawings before he commented further.
However he said he believed a warship was still the best option as a dive site for the Gold Coast and would continue to push for the city to get a boat.
“I have been informed HMAS Success will be available in July next year and I will be working on getting this ship for the Gold Coast,” he said.
Mr Robert said the Minister had informed him that the Federal Government was negotiating the sales of the HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Newcastle with a foreign government. “If these negotiations fail, I will lobby for the Queensland Government to bid for one of these warships,” he said.