Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has accepted Michael Ferguson’s resignation as infrastructure minister over the bungled rollout of new Spirit of Tasmania vessels.
Mr Ferguson released a statement on Monday morning describing the delays to port infrastructure at Devonport as “profoundly disappointing”.
“I recognise the impact of the delay in constructing the portside infrastructure and sincerely apologise to all Tasmanians for the disappointment that represents,” he said.
“My team and I truly tried to keep the project on track, but it proved impossible with actions taken during Caretaker [period during the election campaign] rendering those efforts wasted.”
He has spoken to, and written to, Premier Jeremy Rockliff recommending he reshuffle the cabinet.
Mr Rockliff accepted this, and will take on the infrastructure portfolio himself.
Mr Ferguson will remain deputy premier and treasurer.
Michael Ferguson (left) has passed the infrastructure portfolio to Premier Jeremy Rockliff. (ABC News: Luke Bowden )
Lambie calls for Ferguson’s move to backbenchÂ
Mr Ferguson said he provided a parliamentary committee with “substantial details” this morning about the handling of the Spirits project, including by Spirit operator TT-Line.
“The record is clear as to how this situation has developed and the significant interventions that the Liberal Government has been forced to take in November, June and August to help TT-Line keep it on track,” he said.
It comes after Senator Jacqui Lambie called for Mr Ferguson’s resignation on August 15, which took her own Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) MPs by surprise.
That, in turn, resulted in a public disagreement with her own state MPs, two of whom were kicked out of the party on the weekend.
Senator Lambie welcomed the decision for Mr Ferguson to relinquish the portfolio, but wanted him to go further.
“Mr Ferguson’s rank incompetence surely suggests that he should also resign as Treasurer and move to the backbench so that the Premier can put someone in the job who can hopefully do the job,” she said.
Bungled Spirit delivery
Berth upgrades at Devonport to accommodate the two new ships have seen repeated delays and major cost blowouts, to the point where interim upgrades have been proposed to another berth.
But that also caused concern with a major freight company.
TT-Line increased its borrowing capacity late last year as a result of the berth upgrades, which did not become public knowledge until Labor asked questions in parliament.
The ships themselves have also seen substantial cost blowouts, including an additional 50-million euro payment to Finnish shipbuilder RMC. This was also not public knowledge until questioning by Labor.
The decisions were made during the government caretaker period ahead of the March state election.
Earlier this month, Michael Grainger, the chair of ferry operator TT-Line, was asked to resign by a government which claimed he had engaged in a “blame game” over the Spirits debacle.
Mr Rockliff said he thanked Mr Ferguson for his work in the infrastructure portfolio.
“I understand and sincerely appreciate his desire to end the distraction associated with the current challenges involving portside infrastructure for the arrival of new Spirits,” he said.
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