The state government’s plan to establish an office at the CH Smith site on Charles Street has come under scrutiny, with the Greens saying it “raises questions”.
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In the 2017-18 state budget, which was released on Thursday, the government detailed its plan to move into the CH Smith building, one of a $7 million raft of property consolidation initiatives to be implemented to the end of the 2018-19 financial year.
In keeping with the Liberals’ centralised property management strategy, a new “contemporary” government office will be established at the CH Smith site.
The Hodgman government has already issued a $9 million interest-free loan to the Launceston City Council to assist in the development of the long-gestating CH Smith site.
Treasurer Peter Gutwein said there was no conflict of interest in the government’s stake in the development.
“We’re going through a process whereby we are consolidating our property services,” he said.
“We want to ensure we get the best possible outcome for the people that work for the state government, but also for the properties we have state government employees in.”
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the funding injection “raise[d] a number of questions”.
“Because we’re talking about public funds here, we think that there are questions Mr Gutwein, in particular, needs to answer.”
CORRECTION: In a previous version of this story, The Examiner incorrectly reported that the government intended to relocate its St John Street offices to the CH Smith building.