The University of Tasmania’s proposal for a $400 million science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) facility requires “further consultation”, federal Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen says.
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In February, the proposed UTAS STEM facility was elevated to Infrastructure Australia’s Infrastructure Priority List, with IA approving the business case for the facility.
Speaking in Hobart on Monday, Mr Bowen said he had met with Vice-Chancellor Peter Rathjen.
“We’ve had a good meeting with the Vice-Chancellor here today as part of our consultations,” he said.
“I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen today at the University of Tasmania.
“[I’ve] seen what important initiatives and investments [UTAS] has made.”
But Mr Bowen said the proposal for a state-of-the-art STEM facility for Hobart’s central business district needed more consultation before it was rubber-stamped.
”The proposal ... for a STEM centre for Hobart is one which is very interesting,” he said.
“But it requires further consultation.”
He also noted that he would be meeting with the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and local government while in Tasmania.
“That’ll all go into the mix of our policy development,” Mr Bowen said.
Tasmanian Labor Senator Helen Polley joined Mr Bowen in his meetings on Monday.
“Things are looking really good in terms of going forward,” she said.
The state government previously said it “welcomed” the elevation of the proposed STEM facility to IA’s priority list, but was more focused on campus relocations in Launceston and Burnie.