A CONTRITE State Growth Minister Matthew Groom has survived a no-confidence motion, admitting he ‘‘stuffed up’’ by misleading Parliament about the potential sale of public assets. The state government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Tasmania and TasTAFE to investigate a possible Hobart property swap. The non-binding deal was struck to examine ways to plug an estimated $15million shortfall in a $90million arts development being constructed next to the Theatre Royal. Mr Groom has conceded signing the agreement last month, but only after telling Parliament on Wednesday that no such proposals existed. Labor and the Greens were fuming at his failure to mention the potential property shuffle. Opposition Leader Bryan Green called on the minister to stand down or the Premier to sack him. ‘‘When a minister looks you in the eye from the other side of the chamber and gives you the answer you must know that that answer is the truth,’’ Mr Green said. ‘‘How can Tasmanians trust that you are not hiding other secret deals? Will you do the honourable thing today and resign?’’ Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said Mr Groom was sprung being ‘‘too smart by half’’. ‘‘Are you incompetent or dishonest? Which of the two, or are you both?’’ Ms O’Connor asked the Mr Groom. Mr Groom said he did not intend to mislead Parliament. ‘‘I did stuff up, I’ve acknowledged that, but what I did seek to do at all times was answer questions accurately and honestly,’’ he said. ‘‘I formed the view afterwards, on reflection, that I could have worded my answer better.’’ Mr Groom said he was conscious of sensitivities surrounding the potential deal while delivering his original answer. ‘‘The property transfer was a potential solution, but I just want to reiterate there had been no agreement that a property transfer would happen. ‘‘We’re a long way from even considering, on behalf of the government, any potential transfer or property.’’ The government used its numbers to defeat the no-confidence motion.
A CONTRITE State Growth Minister Matthew Groom has survived a no-confidence motion, admitting he ‘‘stuffed up’’ by misleading Parliament about the potential sale of public assets.
The state government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Tasmania and TasTAFE to investigate a possible Hobart property swap.
The non-binding deal was struck to examine ways to plug an estimated $15million shortfall in a $90million arts development being constructed next to the Theatre Royal.
Mr Groom has conceded signing the agreement last month, but only after telling Parliament on Wednesday that no such proposals existed.
Labor and the Greens were fuming at his failure to mention the potential property shuffle.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green called on the minister to stand down or the Premier to sack him.
‘‘When a minister looks you in the eye from the other side of the chamber and gives you the answer you must know that that answer is the truth,’’ Mr Green said. ‘‘How can Tasmanians trust that you are not hiding other secret deals? Will you do the honourable thing today and resign?’’
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said Mr Groom was sprung being ‘‘too smart by half’’.
‘‘Are you incompetent or dishonest? Which of the two, or are you both?’’ Ms O’Connor asked the Mr Groom.
Mr Groom said he did not intend to mislead Parliament.
‘‘I did stuff up, I’ve acknowledged that, but what I did seek to do at all times was answer questions accurately and honestly,’’ he said.
‘‘I formed the view afterwards, on reflection, that I could have worded my answer better.’’
Mr Groom said he was conscious of sensitivities surrounding the potential deal while delivering his original answer.
‘‘The property transfer was a potential solution, but I just want to reiterate there had been no agreement that a property transfer would happen.
‘‘We’re a long way from even considering, on behalf of the government, any potential transfer or property.’’
The government used its numbers to defeat the no-confidence motion.
