LARK Distillery founder Bill Lark has denied claims his endorsement of Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne in a television advertisement was connected with a $100,000 government grant awarded to the company. The grant is one of nine projects supported under the government's Major Projects Infrastructure Assistance Fund. The $100,000 will go towards a visitor centre and expansion at the distillery, estimated to create nine new jobs. The total project cost is $2.05 million. Mr Lark said he had not been a director of the distillery since July last year, and there was no connection whatsoever between the endorsement and grant. "I had no idea the CEO had even lodged an application for a grant until being told by the CEO about a week ago," he said. "I have never spoken to David O'Byrne or any other politician or public servant of any persuasion about this or any other grant." Liberal candidate for Franklin Paul Harriss said there were serious questions to answer about potential conflict of interest between the advertisement and the grant. But Mr O'Byrne hit back at the suggestion, saying he played no role in selecting grant recipients. "This was an independent process, transparent, at arm's length with an independent panel," he said. "All the appropriate processes were followed." Mr O'Byrne said the Liberal party was playing personality politics. "It's a slur on Bill Lark, it's a slur on an independent process, and it's really a slur on the strategy of trying to build jobs in Tasmania," he said.
LARK Distillery founder Bill Lark has denied claims his endorsement of Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne in a television advertisement was connected with a $100,000 government grant awarded to the company.
The grant is one of nine projects supported under the government's Major Projects Infrastructure Assistance Fund.
The $100,000 will go towards a visitor centre and expansion at the distillery, estimated to create nine new jobs. The total project cost is $2.05 million.
Mr Lark said he had not been a director of the distillery since July last year, and there was no connection whatsoever between the endorsement and grant.
"I had no idea the CEO had even lodged an application for a grant until being told by the CEO about a week ago," he said.
"I have never spoken to David O'Byrne or any other politician or public servant of any persuasion about this or any other grant."
Liberal candidate for Franklin Paul Harriss said there were serious questions to answer about potential conflict of interest between the advertisement and the grant.
But Mr O'Byrne hit back at the suggestion, saying he played no role in selecting grant recipients.
"This was an independent process, transparent, at arm's length with an independent panel," he said.
"All the appropriate processes were followed."
Mr O'Byrne said the Liberal party was playing personality politics.
"It's a slur on Bill Lark, it's a slur on an independent process, and it's really a slur on the strategy of trying to build jobs in Tasmania," he said.
