news, local-news, Spirit of Tasmania, Peter Gutwein, catamaran, Devonport, George Town, MIchael Ferguson, Shane Broad
Premier Peter Gutwein – who once described basing the two Bass Strait ferries in Devonport as disastrous – has ruled out moving sea passenger services from the North-West’s biggest city. As a Bass Liberal candidate in 2002, current Premier Peter Gutwein described the then Labor state government’s decision to base the two new monohull Spirit of Tasmania ferries in Devonport as disastrous and said the North-East would be left high and dry. Mr Gutwein – then a Bridport publican – was a strong supporter of the troubled catamaran service out of George Town, which came to be known as the vomit comet and the spewcat. The government this week pulled the pin on a planned build of two new Spirit of Tasmania ferries by a Finnish company, saying it wanted to have them built in Australia to maximise jobs in Australia and Tasmania. It is not known where, or when, the new vessels will be built, and the government did not rule out a return to catamarans. Labor’s Shadow Infrastructure Minister, Shane Broad, said the current situation was even more cause for concern given Mr Gutwein’s past comments. “Not only was he campaigning for a catamaran back in the day – which was the Liberal policy – he was backing it in 100 per cent,” Dr Broad said. “He wasn’t a bit player. “He was running petitions and organising town hall meetings. “When Labor made the decision to buy the two Spirits that are now on the run, he described it as disastrous. “Now that he’s got his hand on the steering wheel of the ship of Tasmania, is there a secret agenda to square up and go back to what he was supporting all those years ago, which was one boat out of Devonport and a cat travelling out of George Town that he campaigned so strongly for?” Mr Gutwein on Thursday said: “There will be no move away from Devonport.” “As recently as April this year, we reiterated that Devonport will remain the Tasmanian home for the Spirit of Tasmania. “Since its inception in 1985, TT-Line has been based at Devonport. “The freight logistics chain for shipping on the Spirits is well established around the Devonport base.” Asked about his comments from 2002, Mr Gutwein said: “The tourism industry in Tasmania in 2002 was in a very different space.” “It took a Liberal government coming to office in 2014 to see our visitor economy skyrocket with freight and tourism industries having been built around the Spirit being based in Devonport. “The North and North-West areas are key to our tourism strategy to encourage and drive visitation to our regions and support local jobs, and last year we saw two thirds of all visitors dispersing into our regional areas.” Mr Gutwein did not rule out catamarans. “All opportunities will be examined and, even if it is not possible for the entire ship build to be completed in Australia, we need to explore the potential for other options, such as partial construction or the manufacturing or installation of componentry in this country,” he said. “Even if 10 per cent of the manufacturing or procurement can be achieved from Tasmanian business, this equates to 150 jobs and broader economic input. “The taskforce will explore all these possibilities and opportunities; this is a time when we need to explore all options for jobs and economic stimulus.” Dr Broad said the government must rule out a shift from Devonport, which he described as the home of the Bass Strait ferries. He also said the government should rule out catamarans, asking whether it had forgotten about travellers being stranded by rough weather and the “Devil Cat running out of spew bags all the time”. The government is aiming to have new vessels built by 2028. Dr Broad said such a long delay would hurt the state. While you’re with us, did you know that you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates and daily headlines direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
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Premier Peter Gutwein – who once described basing the two Bass Strait ferries in Devonport as disastrous – has ruled out moving sea passenger services from the North-West’s biggest city.
As a Bass Liberal candidate in 2002, current Premier Peter Gutwein described the then Labor state government’s decision to base the two new monohull Spirit of Tasmania ferries in Devonport as disastrous and said the North-East would be left high and dry.
Mr Gutwein – then a Bridport publican – was a strong supporter of the troubled catamaran service out of George Town, which came to be known as the vomit comet and the spewcat.
It is not known where, or when, the new vessels will be built, and the government did not rule out a return to catamarans.
Labor’s Shadow Infrastructure Minister, Shane Broad, said the current situation was even more cause for concern given Mr Gutwein’s past comments.
“Not only was he campaigning for a catamaran back in the day – which was the Liberal policy – he was backing it in 100 per cent,” Dr Broad said.
“He was running petitions and organising town hall meetings.
“When Labor made the decision to buy the two Spirits that are now on the run, he described it as disastrous.
Picture: Paul Scambler.
“Now that he’s got his hand on the steering wheel of the ship of Tasmania, is there a secret agenda to square up and go back to what he was supporting all those years ago, which was one boat out of Devonport and a cat travelling out of George Town that he campaigned so strongly for?”
Mr Gutwein on Thursday said: “There will be no move away from Devonport.”
“As recently as April this year, we reiterated that Devonport will remain the Tasmanian home for the Spirit of Tasmania.
“Since its inception in 1985, TT-Line has been based at Devonport.
“The freight logistics chain for shipping on the Spirits is well established around the Devonport base.”
Asked about his comments from 2002, Mr Gutwein said: “The tourism industry in Tasmania in 2002 was in a very different space.”
“It took a Liberal government coming to office in 2014 to see our visitor economy skyrocket with freight and tourism industries having been built around the Spirit being based in Devonport.
“The North and North-West areas are key to our tourism strategy to encourage and drive visitation to our regions and support local jobs, and last year we saw two thirds of all visitors dispersing into our regional areas.”
Mr Gutwein did not rule out catamarans.
“All opportunities will be examined and, even if it is not possible for the entire ship build to be completed in Australia, we need to explore the potential for other options, such as partial construction or the manufacturing or installation of componentry in this country,” he said.
“Even if 10 per cent of the manufacturing or procurement can be achieved from Tasmanian business, this equates to 150 jobs and broader economic input.
“The taskforce will explore all these possibilities and opportunities; this is a time when we need to explore all options for jobs and economic stimulus.”
Dr Broad said the government must rule out a shift from Devonport, which he described as the home of the Bass Strait ferries.
He also said the government should rule out catamarans, asking whether it had forgotten about travellers being stranded by rough weather and the “Devil Cat running out of spew bags all the time”.
The government is aiming to have new vessels built by 2028.
Dr Broad said such a long delay would hurt the state.
While you’re with us, did you know that you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates and daily headlines direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
