The 'Spirit Spotlight' will communicate regular updates on the arrival of the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels.

Update from Jeremy Rockliff, the Premier of Tasmania

20 November 2024

Spirits Update - Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Since committing to sorting the Spirits, fixing our GBEs and backing in the tourism and hospitality industry, important work has progressed.

A few weeks ago, I held the second Industry Roundtable to provide an update on the berth infrastructure for the new Spirits and the significant $28 million tourism and hospitality package that the Tasmanian Government recently announced.

The Roundtable provided a chance to come together and discuss opportunities for the tourism and hospitality industry, ask questions and consult on the pathway forward.

Work has now turned to finalising the details of the tourism and hospitality package, in partnership with T21, to ensure each measure is targeted and delivers the benefits the industry needs.

We have convened a working group to advise on the design and implementation of the package, which comprises TICT, THA, Regional Tourism Organisations, our airports, TT-Line, TasPorts, Tourism Tasmania and the Department of State Growth.

This working group met on the 14th of November and will meet again in two weeks to provide further advice on the visitor boosting package.

As part of our ongoing consultation with industry stakeholders, we have added 28 additional sailings for the current Spirit of Tasmania vessels in January, February, April, May, September and October 2025.

We will, of course, continue to work with TT-Line on delivering even more additional sailings.

As a result of the additional sailings, plus TT-Line’s work to rearrange its vehicle decks to optimise the availability of high space from January to April 2025, more than 300 vehicles have been cleared from the waitlist.

We know there is demand for people travelling with caravans and high vehicles, and these actions are helping to boost patronage and increase capacity for freight.

Earlier this month, I joined project manager Paul Kirkwood to tour the works at Berth 3 in Devonport, with construction now underway on the main vehicle ramp.

As Premier, I’m proud that we have three Tasmanian firms delivering more than 50 per cent of the project, supporting local employment opportunities.

Together, BMD Constructions and Fitzgerald Constructions Australia, who delivered Spirit of Tasmania’s Geelong Port facility, in partnership with Bridgepro Engineering and Tasmanian companies Gradco and Vos Constructions will deliver this project.

Bridgepro Engineering is driving 100 piles for the project’s fixed shore ramp and we expect that about 60 per cent of the pile driving work will be completed by Christmas, subject to geotechnical conditions and weather.

While this work is completed, action is underway to identify potential leasing or chartering options for Spirit IV to deliver the best possible financial outcome for Tasmanians.

Spirit IV will be temporarily relocated to Scotland while work is underway to identify potential leasing or chartering options to deliver the best possible financial return for Tasmanians. It is expected that the vessel will leave Finland at the end of this month.

We remain committed to ensuring the vessels are fitted out with local content and I can confirm that majority of this content has now been installed, including carpet and window furnishing for cabins, appliances and equipment.

The finishing touches - such as artwork, mattresses and blankets and throws have already been purchased from Tasmanian businesses with the timing of the final installation to be determined following any leasing arrangements that are made.

I have been clear that we will fix our GBE’s and ensure that Tasmanians are at the top of their organisational charts, acting in the best interests of Tasmanians – always.

We recently announced that our Government is embarking on landmark reforms to ensure Government-owned businesses act in the best interests of Tasmanians.

As part of these reforms, we will consult on a proposal to merge TasPorts, TT-Line and TasRail into a unified government-owned entity. You can find out more on these reforms or make submission at Government Business Governance Reform | Treasury and Finance Tasmania.

As part of our efforts to back the tourism industry, a new campaign to inspire Tasmanians to make the most of the longer days and enjoy everything our beautiful State has to offer has been launched and we hope it results in more Tasmanians eating in restaurants and cafes, experiencing our unique tourism offerings and exploring our regions.

This is in addition to our popular Come Down For Air interstate campaign which is running throughout NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia until March 2025.

Finally, I am pleased to confirm the return of Dark Mofo in 2025 – made possible through our government’s investment of $21.6 million, securing the event for the next three years.

Targa Tasmania will also return, ensuring 2025 is set to deliver significant economic benefits for the tourism and hospitality industry as we seek to stimulate visitation and encourage regional dispersal.

I look forward to continuing to work with industry to finalise the details of the tourism and hospitality package.

The next Industry Roundtable will be held in the new year, with the smaller working group meeting more regularly to feed into the T21 process.

Jeremy Rockliff
Premier of Tasmania

Update from Jeremy Rockliff, the Premier of Tasmania

25 October 2024

Spirits Update - Tourism and Hospitality Industry

This week I announced the way forward in relation to the Spirit of Tasmania vessels and berthing infrastructure.

Firstly, I want to thank you for your patience as infrastructure and engineering experts, Ben Moloney and Peter Gemell, have worked tirelessly and thoroughly to provide advice and recommendations to the Government on the best way forward.

The Tasmanian Government will prioritise the construction of berthing infrastructure at Berth 3E, proceeding with the most cost-effective and efficient option.

While the Government had investigated modifying Berth 1E in order to bring the vessels to Devonport sooner, the Report has found it would be unsafe.

Options to modify both Berth 1E and Berth 2E were also investigated but found any modifications would provide limited benefits, cost the taxpayer up to $60 million and would require significant timely and costly compensation and renegotiation of agreements.

Revised timelines show the new Terminal 3 may not be completed until February 2027 unless risks are appropriately managed or mitigated.

By accelerating the construction of Berth 3E infrastructure, it is anticipated that the completion date can potentially be brought forward to October 2026, in time for the 2026-27 peak summer period.

With the first new Spirit of Tasmania vessel due to depart Finland in the coming weeks, TT-Line is now exploring opportunities to lease or charter the vessel during the interim period.

TT-Line have employed a broker to identify the most suitable locations for leasing, with the aim of making it as financially beneficial for Tasmanians as possible.

Should leasing opportunities not prove financially beneficial, TT-Line will seek a cost-effective medium-term storage option in Tasmania. If this eventuates, the Tasmanian Government will ensure that TasPorts will not charge TT-Line to store the vessels.

TT-line has engaged the Project Director that successfully delivered the Spirit of Tasmania Geelong Port upgrades to direct TT-line’s delivery team.

The Project Director will report directly to the TT-line Board as the accountable authority responsible to the Government for delivering this project.

The Department of State Growth will oversee the project, which will be subject to regular six monthly ‘Health Check’ reviews and project assurance reviews.

I absolutely recognise the situation we are in is deeply disappointing for everyone, particularly people in our tourism and hospitality industry, but I am committed to supporting the industry as we move forward with delivering Berth 3

On Thursday, I announced a comprehensive tourism and hospitality package to boost visitation, support our local tourism and hospitality businesses and make life more affordable over the coming 24 months.

These initiatives are designed to drive visitation and encourage regional dispersal across all seasons.

The package includes $6 million to drive visitation to Tasmania via the Spirit of Tasmania by reducing fares and delivering additional day sailings, across peak and off-peak seasons.

We will provide additional funding to increase air capacity in the North, South and North-West of the State and deliver air and car hire packages to encourage those arriving by air to get out and enjoy our regions.

A $5 million Spirit Preparedness Fund will be established to support tourism and hospitality businesses and Councils to develop new products and offerings, enhance existing attractions, and deliver local infrastructure such as signage and charging stations. This fund will work off a 50:50 co-contribution.

A $5 million Events Tasmania Attraction Fund will be available to secure more events and business events for the State.

We know that events like Bicheno Beams and Permission to Trespass have been hugely successful in drawing visitors to our regions and we want to support more events like these.

We will also launch a new voucher scheme, Eat Local, Stay Local, to encourage Tasmanians to travel and eat out. There will be 100,000 vouchers on offer, valued at $100 each, commencing for the start of the 2025 easter school holidays and continuing through the off season.

I will now work with the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania and our regional tourism organisations to finalise the details for each of these investments.

The next tourism roundtable is on 1 November where this package will be discussed further with industry.

I have said we will sort the spirits, fix the GBEs and back Tasmania’s tourism industry, and that’s what we are doing.

Despite the challenges, Tasmanians can be confident we will get this project back on track and ensure such a failure will never happen again.

Again, thank you for your patience through this challenging period.

The Tasmanian tourism and hospitality industry is truly world-class.

I am immensely proud of the businesses, people and products that make this industry so special.

I look forward to continuing to work with you to support and grow the industry, ensuring Tasmania remains a world class travel destination.

You can read a copy of their final report here.

Update from Jeremy Rockliff, the Premier of Tasmania

17 September 2024

Spirits Update – Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Hi everyone,

I wanted to provide you with an update on the new Spirits.

I know that you have been keenly awaiting the arrival of our new ships.

The new Spirit of Tasmania vessels will deliver unprecedented opportunity for our tourism and hospitality businesses.

They will have 40 per cent more capacity for freight and passengers, bringing even more visitors to Tasmania.

Last week, we took ownership of the first of our brand-new Spirit of Tasmania vessels (Spirit IV) in Finland, which is a significant step forward for this important project.

I have made it clear to TT-Line and TasPorts that I want this project delivered as quickly as possible.

Both organisations, in partnership with the Department of State Growth, are working hard to present options to me.

To drive this work, I have appointed Ben Moloney and Peter Gemmell.

Ben Moloney has done an outstanding job at delivering two of Tasmania’s biggest infrastructure projects, the redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital and the new Bridgewater Bridge.

Peter Gemmell has 40 years’ experience in infrastructure delivery, in both the public and private sector.

While this work is underway, I want to assure you that we are continuing to prepare for the vessels arrival, through a number of initiatives that will drive visitor demand, and encourage visitation over the coming months.

As part of our $12 million investment into the Visitor Economy Strategy, we are committing significant funding to deliver priority infrastructure projects that will help us prepare for the arrival of the new Spirits.

We have coupled this with an additional $4 million to Tourism Tasmania for marketing initiatives that will drive visitor demand.

Tourism Tasmania will continue to work with the Spirit of Tasmania on opportunities to encourage visitation to the state to ensure the increased capacity provided by the ships is optimised for the state, including regional visitor economies.

In addition to these investments, we are working hard to maximise visitor numbers for the 2024-25 summer season.

In line with past practice, TT-Line will continue to offer additional day sailings to meet demand.

Tourism Tasmania will deliver its off-island summer marketing push with their Come Down for Air spring/summer campaign, and will work with peak industry bodies to look at what else can be done to stimulate demand moving through this spring and summer and into next winter.

We are also investing $5 million through our Events Tasmania Attraction Fund to secure more events and business events for the State.

I am proud of our strong and growing Tourism and Hospitality industry.

Tasmania is a truly unique destination, with so many competitive advantages.

Just last week, we celebrated Devonport being named Australia’s Top Tourism Town for 2024.

As we drive the delivery of this once-in-a-generation project, I will keep the industry updated with regular bulletins and important information.

I will also meet again with the Tourism Roundtable on the 1st of November to provide a more detailed update on progress.

This project is essential to our tourism and hospitality industries and I am working hard to deliver it as quickly as possible.

Yours sincerely

Jeremy Rockliff
Premier of Tasmania