Michael Grainger and Bernard Dwyer at a hearing in July before the Tasmanian Public Accounts Committee. Photo: Supplied.
The parliamentary inquiry regarding ongoing delays and cost blowouts from two new Spirit of Tasmania ferries has claimed yet another senior executive.
CEO and Managing Director Bernard Dwyer has resigned from TT-Line, the state government-owned business in charge of the Bass Strait service.
His departure comes as the Public Accounts Committee investigates why the vessels will now cost an extra $81.6 million over the initially agreed amount of $850 million. The company ordered Spirit of Tasmania IV and V, which are also set to be delivered late, respectively, arriving in October and next year.
Even when the ferries arrive, they will have to limit their operations due to the construction of a new berth in Devonport that won’t be complete until 2026.
While Mr Dwyer will remain CEO until the end of his term on 3 November, he did not appear at the parliamentary inquiry on Monday (9 September). Acting chair Damian Bugg said this was “for his own wellbeing” as the chief executive had been under immense strain.
“Bernard has held leadership positions with the company for 14 years and has driven change and the build of the company’s new vessels through the most difficult of times.
“His positive approach, energy and will to achieve the best for Tasmania will be sorely missed.”
These issues have already seen the Tasmanian Government ask for the resignation of former TT-line Chairman Mike Grainger, who is scheduled to appear before the committee after leaving the company earlier this year.
The saga has also likely seen the end of Senator Jacqui Lambie’s push into state politics.
Two of her representatives left the network Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) after she successfully campaigned for the resignation of Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson from his role as Minister for Infrastructure.
On 15 August, Senator Lambie published a media release demanding he be removed from the portfolio due to the delayed arrival of the ferries and Devonport berth. Though Mr Ferguson will continue as Deputy Premier and Treasurer, and in his new role with Small Business and Consumer Affairs, Senator Lambie believes he should be removed from all his responsibilities and sent to the backbench.
When two of her state MPs, Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland, brought their concerns to Senator Lambie, she told them to leave her party as they had “made it clear they no longer represent the JLN’s values of accountability, transparency and integrity”.
A few days later, Senator Lambie told the ABC that she would no longer run state candidates in Tasmania despite three being successfully elected in the March 2024 poll.
“I will say to those ordinary Tasmanians now that want a shot in politics, I am not big enough to make that happen,” she said. “Those days of giving ordinary Tasmanians a go are over.”
The Senator apologised for the instability created by her party’s split, which had “not been fair on Tasmanians”.
Andrew Jenner is, and will be, the last remaining JLN MP in the Tasmanian Parliament.
While Senator Lambie declared she would support Mr Jenner “to the hilt” if he wishes to continue in future elections, Senator Lambie is expected to keep her focus on the JLN federal candidates she’s running next year.
Following their exit, Premier Jeremy Rockliff secured an agreement with the now-independent Members for Bass and Braddon, Ms Beswick and Ms Pentland.
The Premier will require the votes of four of the six crossbenchers to pass legislation now. However, further challenges remain as Mr Jenner indicated he would also like a new agreement with the state.
