Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader
The Liberals demonstrated in Parliament this afternoon that they do not support openness and transparency on their plans to sell or giveaway up to 500 Housing Tasmania homes, the Treasury Building, Hunter Street Art School, TasTAFE building, St John St offices in Launceston, Forestry Tasmania's plantation estate and an unknown area of Crown Land.
The Tasmanian Greens brought on a debate in Private Members' Time today that acknowledges the government of the day manages public assets on behalf of the people of Tasmania, and that the owners of these assets should have a say.
It's unfortunate Labor voted with the Liberals on this matter of significant public importance. It's a failing of both the old parties to commit to openness and transparency in government.
This debate is happening in the context of a pledge the Premier made to Tasmanians before the 2014 State Election, and shortly after, when he said:"There is no privatisation agenda at all or asset sales other than the Aurora Energy retail book which we have already announced. Other than that, we will not be selling anything and that is part of the commitment we took to the last election."*
These words are now meaningless. They are simply another broken promise from a government that is blinded by the might of its Parliamentary numbers and its arrogance.
A secretive privatisation agenda is now underway and the owners of these assets are being left in the dark by a Liberal Government that is intoxicated on power.