Tasmanian Labor stands for safe, secure, well-paid jobs.
We understand government businesses like the Hydro, TasPorts and TT-Line are critical for Tasmania's economy and jobs.
The last six months have laid bare the complete failure of the Liberals-and Michael Ferguson in particular-to provide the leadership and oversight our government businesses need.
That's why, in addition to calling on the Premier to hold Michael Ferguson accountable, Labor is announcing the first stage in our plan to get Tasmania's government businesses back on track and working to create jobs for Tasmanians.
The first stage of Labor's plan will:
- Modernise the legislative framework for our government businesses, by replacing the 30 year old Government Business Enterprises Act 1995 with a new Tasmanian Government Business Constitution Act. This would include a requirement for quarterly reporting to Parliament to enhance accountability and new reporting requirements, including board performance reviews.
- Make it law that our government businesses are acting in the best long-term interests of Tasmania, not just their own self-interest, by requiring them to always consider the broader Tasmanian economy in their decision making. We will establish this requirement in legislation as charters and letters of expectation have proven ineffective. This will also have direct benefits for local businesses competing in procurement processes.
- Reduce the confusion caused by the Corporations Act, by reviewing the government business portfolio to ensure they are appropriately classified as GBEs or SOCs, with a view to optimising their governance models.
- Prevent the failures we've seen on Michael Ferguson's watch occurring again, by requiring that at all times there are two separate shareholder ministers for all government businesses.
- Bring in fresh ideas and new leadership, by setting a two term limit for board appointments, a strict rule that people cannot serve on more than two government boards at once, and a policy preference that people will not serve on more than one wherever possible.
Labor's plan will start the work of getting our government businesses back on track, and delivering once again for Tasmanian jobs and the economy.
This is just the start of our reforms to our underperforming Government Businesses. We will continue to engage with businesses who are being let down and are sick of seeing our GBEs ignoring Tasmania's interests.
After 10 years of the Liberals and the biggest infrastructure stuff up in Tasmania's history, our government businesses have never been in greater need of new leadership.
Dean Winter MP
Labor Leader
