Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Treasurer

Tuesday 29th June 2010

Treasurer Can't be Believed on Aurora

The Treasurer's limp excuses today at Estimates are a poor substitute for the transparency and accountability that Tasmanians deserve from their Government.

The Treasurer has admitted that he met with Aurora in January at the same time that Aurora was providing PricewaterhouseCoopers with up-to-date information on its worsening financial situation.

The Treasurer admitted that his senior adviser at the time was briefed by PricewaterhouseCoopers before the election was called and before the price cap promise was made.

The Treasurer also admitted that at the meeting with Aurora he was personally briefed on Aurora's debt situation, which is at the heart of their deteriorating finances.

The Treasurer also indicated that the information Aurora provided to PricewaterhouseCoopers may in fact be the same information contained in the Aurora Corporate Plan that caused the Premier to spectacularly back flip on Labor's price cap promise.

The Treasurer also contends that Aurora's Directors have acted in accordance with Aurora's constitution and disclosed all details about the financial situation as soon as possible.

Yet the Treasurer bizarrely contends that he didn't know Aurora was in financial trouble until after the election. It simply doesn't add up.