Rebecca White has today abandoned Labor’s promise to build a new prison in the State’s north. In doing so, she has also walked away from over 3000 construction jobs in Northern Tasmania.
When challenged on radio* this morning to match the Government’s $270 million commitment for a northern prison, Ms White said Labor’s $40 million commitment was in fact not for a new prison, but rather to replace or renovate the Launceston Reception Centre.
This is an amazing backflip from Ms White who has continually stated Labor’s intention to build a northern prison. In fact, their Economic Directions Statement clearly states they will build a new correctional facility in Northern Tasmania- not a new remand centre.^
It confirms yet again that with Labor, you simply don’t know what you’re going to get.
*Rebecca White, ABC Mornings, 22/01/2018: “What we’re talking about doing is providing new facilities to replace the northern, the Launceston reception centre… our provision within our budget provides $40 million dollars to replace that.”
^Labor’s Economic Directions Statement: - Labor will fund the investigation, design and construction of a new correctional facility in Northern Tasmania.