Dissenting Report by Coalition
Senators
1.1
The Coalition cannot support the committee report as it relates to
evidence provided by Surface Transport Policy on 23 May 2012, relating to the
$20 million Tasmanian freight assistance package.
1.2
The matter is dealt with in paragraphs 3.32 – 3.34 of the committee
report.
1.3
On the afternoon on 23 May 2012 the committee heard evidence from Mr
Deegan of Infrastructure Australia:
Senator COLBECK: I want to ask some questions about
the work that you are doing in Tasmania around the export freight issues that
they have been dealing with. My understanding is that you were going to hand a
report to the government by early May; is that correct?
Mr Deegan: That is correct. I am hoping that it will
be released shortly. The federal minister asked that I undertake some further
consultation after a discussion I had with him towards the end of April, which
made a lot of sense.
Senator COLBECK: That is fine. So you have handed him
the initial report?
Mr Deegan: I have had a discussion with him about the
report. I have not yet handed in my report. That is imminent.[1]
1.4
Later that evening the committee took evidence from Surface Transport Policy
regarding the allocation of the funding.
1.5
The committee was again told that the Infrastructure Australia report
was not completed and that the finalisation of that report would be an input
into finalising the assistance package.
Mr Mrdak: That will contribute some further thinking
in relation to the terms of the arrangements, and we anticipate that over the
coming weeks the minister and the Tasmanian government will announce the
details of the arrangements.
Senator COLBECK: So we will not see a final answer on
the allocation of that funding until the report from Infrastructure Australia
is released?
Mr Mrdak: Certainly the finalisation of Mr Deegan’s
report will be one of the inputs into finalising the program.[2]
1.6
The Committee was further advised that the detail of how the funding
package was to be allocated was yet to be finalised.
Ms Gosling: That is right. As Mr Mrdak said, it will
be a payment to the Tasmanian government. Once we have settled the exact detail
of how that money would be allocated, then the allocation of the funds would be
a question for the Tasmanian government.[3]
1.7
It is the Coalition’s view that the evidence provided to the committee
regarding the allocation of the funding indicated that decisions had not been
made and it would be perhaps weeks before announcements would be made, and that
the decision would be made by the Tasmanian government.
1.8
On the morning of 24 May 2012 articles appeared in The Advocate and the
Examiner newspapers announcing the allocation of funding from the package (see
pages 30 and 31).
1.9
It subsequently became evident that an embargoed media release had been
issued on 23 May 2012 by Minister Albanese and two colleagues announcing the
funding (see pages 32–33).
1.10
As indicated in a letter from Mr Deegan to the committee, the report
from Infrastructure Australia was not handed to Minister Albanese until after
the embargo time on the media release and the media articles had appeared in
the two Tasmanian papers.
1.11
It is clear that the prerequisites for finalising the details of the
funding, as outlined in evidence to the committee, had not been met when the
announcement was made by Minister Albanese.
1.12
During debate on the matter at the commencement of business on the
morning of 24 May 2012, the Chair, Senator Sterle said:
CHAIR: Thank you. Now, with all due respect, I know I
sat here as you did ask those questions of the officers last night and I
certainly share that you have some form of reason to be upset. The officers are
big enough to look after themselves—and I am happy to facilitate a private
meeting, should we need that—but I think the committee should write to the
appropriate department and perhaps seek a briefing.[4]
1.13
It is the view of the Coalition that Minister Albanese was attempting to
avoid the scrutiny of the committee in the allocation of the Tasmanian freight
assistance package.
1.14
It is this action that the Coalition contests saw the committee misled
by the evidence provided.
| Senator the
Hon Richard Colbeck |
Senator the Hon Bill Heffernan
Deputy
Chair |
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