Tasmania's Liberal government does not have a monopoly on having an aversion to being upfront.
Sometimes, however, its amateur attempts to avoid a damaging headline are more embarrassing than what was making it anxious.
On Monday afternoon, there was a classic attempt to "bury the lead" when providing an update on the state's largest infrastructure spend.
Under the heading "New Spirit of Tasmania vessels progressing with more local contracts", a media release from Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson proceeded to talk up the benefits of the project.
For eight or nine sentences he waxed lyrical about how Tasmanian businesses were winning work on the new Spirits.
Only then did Mr Ferguson reveal what the government and the state-owned TT-Line have surely known for some time.
The shipbuilder in Finland - Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) - "had recently advised", he said, that the first of the new ferries would not be complete until mid-June.
Mr Ferguson says this could be a delay "of up to seven weeks", which does not add up given previous advice was that the Spirit of Tasmania IV would be delivered in the first quarter of 2024. That is, by the end of March.
This was back when the government, TT-Line and RMC were upfront about when the new ships were expected to be delivered, and, if one looks at their relevant statements, you would see that they had not done that for some months.
More suspicious is the timing of the minister's far from in your face revelation of the delays, with parliamentary committees set to scrutinise TT-Line on Friday.
The delayed delivery is disappointing; it would have been great to have Spirit IV in service before Winter.
Yes, there is potential embarrassment given the past problems with this project on the government's watch, and the opposition will not pass up the opportunity to try to score points.
Most Tasmanians though would see through the politics and understand the delays were not of the government's making.
The shipyard has battled COVID, a fire, and a steel shortage caused by the war in Ukraine.
Delays were to be expected.
And a government not so sensitive to criticism would have been much more upfront about that reality.
It is a fair ask too given the Liberals will not be shy in taking credit when the new Spirits sail in.
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Anthony Haneveer
Born and raised in the North-West, Anthony is committed to sharing the stories that matter to the people of our region.
Born and raised in the North-West, Anthony is committed to sharing the stories that matter to the people of our region.
