PREMIER Will Hodgman says the government will consider selling off public offices in St John Street, Launceston to private investors. The Liberals came under persistent fire in Question Time after the party confirmed it was considering selling Hobart's historic Treasury building. Labor and the Greens accused the government of trying to privatise public assets by stealth using a secretive ''unsolicited bids'' process. Mr Hodgman emphatically denied their suggestions, but confirmed he was seeking independent advice on which state-owned buildings he could offload. ''We will seek and obtain expert evidence and advice on whether or not it would be appropriate, possible and suitable for the Treasury building to be made available for other uses,'' he said. ''We've asked for that advice to consider whether there are other government buildings that could be considered for other purposes as well.'' Labor and the Greens said the Hodgman government had promised not to privatise any public assets ahead of the last election, accusing the Liberals going back on their word. Mr Hodgman countered by suggesting he would not be ''hamstrung by ideology'' surrounding privatisation. ''Why wouldn't we open our eyes to opportunities? That's the difference between a Liberal government and a Labor-Green government,'' he said. ''We'll look at other opportunities, and that does include other government-owned buildings that might be considered for alternate uses, such as the public offices in St John Street, Launceston.'' ''Any decision made to sell these buildings, if it's made, will be done through a transparent and appropriate process.''
The public offices in St John Street, Launceston, on the left.
PREMIER Will Hodgman says the government will consider selling off public offices in St John Street, Launceston to private investors.
The Liberals came under persistent fire in Question Time after the party confirmed it was considering selling Hobart's historic Treasury building.
Labor and the Greens accused the government of trying to privatise public assets by stealth using a secretive ''unsolicited bids'' process.
Mr Hodgman emphatically denied their suggestions, but confirmed he was seeking independent advice on which state-owned buildings he could offload.
''We will seek and obtain expert evidence and advice on whether or not it would be appropriate, possible and suitable for the Treasury building to be made available for other uses,'' he said.
''We've asked for that advice to consider whether there are other government buildings that could be considered for other purposes as well.''
Labor and the Greens said the Hodgman government had promised not to privatise any public assets ahead of the last election, accusing the Liberals going back on their word.
Mr Hodgman countered by suggesting he would not be ''hamstrung by ideology'' surrounding privatisation.
''Why wouldn't we open our eyes to opportunities? That's the difference between a Liberal government and a Labor-Green government,'' he said.
''We'll look at other opportunities, and that does include other government-owned buildings that might be considered for alternate uses, such as the public offices in St John Street, Launceston.''
''Any decision made to sell these buildings, if it's made, will be done through a transparent and appropriate process.''
