24 May 2024
Topics: Hobart stadium and GST exemption, state transportation services
E&OE
Richard Perno:
That was the promise given to us on that windy day at the precinct, which was meant to set up something for our future and not only sports wise as you heard. And I spoke with Jeremy Rockliff about that, I also spoke with the then Treasurer, Michael Ferguson at the time. We were concerned about the money. And what we wanted to do was to make sure that Tasmanians wouldn’t have to pay for this out of our GST. But Senator Jonno Duniam, it looks like we’re going to be stuck with it. Good morning, Senator.
Senator Duniam:
Good morning, Richard and yeah, the sad reality is now it does look like we are stuck with losing the money. At least that’s what the Tasmanian Government was told by Jim Chalmers in a letter overnight. Disappointingly, somehow the Federal Labor Government has thought we don’t need that money that goes to health, that goes through education and all the other essential services. They’re happy to take it away.
Richard Perno:
Now did you tell me, Jonno, that he sent a letter? Now the Treasurer, the key holder of the cash register, was in town the other day. Why didn’t he go up to Rocky and say, hey, that’s not going to happen, mate. Why? Why did he send a letter?
Senator Duniam:
That’s a good question, Richard. And I mean, I saw a transcript of the interview that he did while he was here in Tasmania trying to tell Tasmanians, don’t worry, there’s nothing to see here. I call that hoodwinking and something that frankly you just got to be upfront about. He was directly asked, are we going to get our GST or not? He sort of talked around the issue and then two days later, or a day later sent of course, this letter now. The other thing, just on letters, last year, Richard, you would remember that every single Tasmanian Federal Member of Parliament and Senator wrote to Jim Chalmers, except for the four Labor Senators, Brian Mitchell and Julie Collins. The Labor members of Parliament refused to sign this letter asking for there to be a GST exemption. This is one thing that I was able to join with Peter Whish-Wilson and Jacqui Lambie and others to ask for. This was above politics. This is about being Tasmanian and the Labor Party have turned their back on this state to allow them to pocket $240 million of our Tasmanian money in Canberra. It is shocking.
Richard Perno:
So where to from here, Jonno? I mean, you’re forthright, you certainly don’t lie down and get trodden on. What are you going to do about this? And what can we do about this?
Senator Duniam:
Well, I think the first thing you and your listeners can do is ask Brian Mitchell, Helen Polley, Anne Urquhart why they let this happen and what they’re going to do about it, because this can’t just be let to go away. $240 million bucks goes a long way in Tassie as everyone knows. And we need every cent of that. But your listeners would also know what an election is coming up in the next six to twelve months, let’s see whenever it is. If they do not fix this situation, if Brian Mitchell, Anne Urquhart, Helen Polley and the Labor people in Tasmania don’t fix this situation, I can guarantee you it will be an election issue. We deserve that $240 million and we will get it one way or another and we won’t let it rest until we get what we need and deserve in this state.
Richard Perno:
Will you win?
Senator Duniam:
Well, we have to. We don’t have a choice. Like that money ripped out of health or road building or education is what we need. And seriously, I’m not doing my job properly and neither is any of my Liberal, Green, or Lambie colleagues if we let this rest. So again, as I said before, this is not a Liberal/Labor thing. This is a Tasmanian versus Canberra thing. And the fact that Tasmanian Labor representatives sided with Canberra over Tasmania means they’ve got a lot of explaining to do for the people in their community.
Richard Perno:
Alright, I will try and tap into those Labor candidates or those Labor members and see what they feel about that. The other thing I want an upgrade or update on is this situation with the two ferries. One isn’t going to arrive now until the end of the year, Jonno Duniam, the other one, not ‘til next year. What’s all this about? It sounds a bit murky to me and it almost parallels the gun to the head that we had about our stadium. If you if you want a team, you have to build a stadium. If you want ferries, you’re going to have to pay money. What’s you’re reading on this, Jonno?
Senator Duniam:
Well, look, shipbuilding is something I’ve never been a big fan of. I’m still getting over the RSV Nuyina Icebreaker experience which of course was preset by problems and Australia doesn’t have something that it used to have and that is an amazing shipbuilding capacity. It is limited. And so, a lot of the capacity we’d need to build commercial ferries like the ones the Tasmanian Government have ordered, or the Nuyina is based overseas. So, we are in a sense at a disadvantage and in a poor negotiating position. But, I’d love to see more detail about where we’re at and why I think, you know the election period, it was hard to get this information to the community, but I think it is important for the Tassie Government, and in particular TT line which is a an independent entity of course, it’s run by a board, it’s got a CEO. We need explanations as to why costs go the way they do. Timelines go the way they do, and I’d also like to see some transparency on how they set their fairs. So, I think that’s important for this.
Richard Perno:
There’s that word again, transparency. You know, if they came to us Jonno and said look, we’re stuffed or we’ve gone to this, this is what we’re going to do. We go, ok, we’ll give you a chance. But when it seems to be hidden, we make up our own minds of what’s going on, don’t we?
Senator Duniam:
In any void where there is no information, people will draw their own conclusions, absolutely. And publicly owned entities are accountable to the people. Yeah sure, they don’t face an election, but at the end of the day it is the shareholders who effectively are the taxpayers of Tasmania and on that basis, accountability is to them. So yes. Your listeners, you and I are due an explanation on these sorts of things from time to time. And a bit of information wouldn’t go astray, just to keep everyone in the know and satisfied about what’s going on.
Richard Perno:
Negative or positive, we just want to know the full story. Senator Jonno Duniam, Tasmanian Liberal. Let’s see what happens, especially about the GST. We’re going to be short changed if that goes through and it’s almost there and the TT lines as well, let’s stay in touch. Thank you Jonno for your time this morning.
Senator Duniam:
Thanks, Richard. Have a great day.