Shameful: Michael Ferguson blasts Labor over new Spirit ferries

"I'm shocked Labor would give up on local jobs before we even get to the first hurdle," Mr Ferguson said on Monday.

His comments followed Shadow Infrastructure Minister Shane Broad at the weekend saying the government should stick with Finnish shipyard Rauma Marine Constructions.

In a shock move, the government recently dumped plans for a Finnish build expected to cost $850 million, citing a desire to have the new vessels built or part-built in Australia to create and support Tasmanian and Australian jobs.

It appointed a taskforce to look into local procurement, purchasing and manufacturing options.

Since then, Western Australian-based shipbuilding giant Austal and Tasmanian-based catamaran builder Incat have expressed interest in being involved.

Austal's proposal involves building two the hulls for two monohull vessels in South-East Asia and completing what it calls the "sophisticated, high-grade" work in Australia while maximising Tasmanian companies' involvement.

Chief executive David Singleton said Austal estimated about half of the "labour content" could be done in Australia.

Incat has suggested a fast ferry to complement the existing Spirits.

Dr Broad said the government had previously overlooked Austal and Incat and had said no Australian shipyard could build the vessels.

He said the Finnish build was Labor's preferred option.

Mr Ferguson said the European shipbuilding industry would celebrate Labor's stance.

He said the government was determined, for the cost of a six-month review by the taskforce, to explore the opportunities for local jobs.

He said hundreds of thousands of Australians had lost their jobs during the pandemic and it was "appalling" for one of the two major political parties to "preference European commerce over Australian industry".

"The real question is how can we create and stimulate Tasmanian and Australian jobs?" he said.

Dr Broad denied Labor was being dismissive of Australian jobs.

"We'd love to see it fitted out in Tasmania," he said.

He said Labor would have backed TT-Line, signed a contract with the Finnish company and had "the boat" in Tasmania in 2022.

He said the current plan was to have the new vessels by 2028 and the government had previously promised an Australian fit-out.

Spirit operator TT-Line's preference has been to retain the twin monohulls model.

Premier Peter Gutwein has not ruled out catamarans.

Neither did Mr Ferguson. Quite.

"We're in the market for steel monohulls," he said.

He said the taskforce's job was to look at all reasonable opportunities for Australian firms to contribute.

Pressed on whether his earlier comment meant catamarans were out of the equation, he said the government would not pick winners and was determined not to predict what advice the taskforce would give.

"We welcome the input from Incat and Austal," Mr Ferguson said.

"We will allow the taskforce to do its work ..."

Mr Ferguson said Prime Minister Scott Morrison had encouraged Mr Gutwein to give Australian industry an opportunity with the new vessels.

"The federal government has been asking the states to do more to create Australian jobs," Mr Ferguson said.

"We took from that, 'What can we do?'

"It was 100 per cent a Tasmanian decision.

"We want to favour Tasmanian and Australian jobs."

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the Austal and Incat proposals.

"While it is early days, the interest shown by both Austal and Incat appears to vindicate the government's decision to again test the market before deciding where to build the new TT-Line ferries", chief executive Michael Bailey said.

"In this post-COVID world, we need to be exploring every available opportunity to manufacture locally and to create local manufacturing jobs.

"If we can possibly build the new ferries in Tasmania and in Australia, then we should do so."