A controversial tourism facility at a Cadbury factory partly funded by taxpayer dollars looks set to go ahead, with the chocolate maker announcing the "globally relevant chocolate experience" should be signed off within weeks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tony Abbott promised a $16 million grant to the Hobart project during last year's federal election, however questions have since been raised about the generous pledge given the Coalition government's refusal to provide taxpayer assistance to fruit cannery SPC Ardmona.
It was also later revealed that Alastair Furnival, the staffer dumped from working in the office of Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash, helped lobby the state government to secure funds for Cadbury.
Shadow industry spokesman Anthony Albanese has criticised the decision, saying it was made on the run without any analysis of whether it represented value for taxpayers' funds.
And last month cabinet minister Eric Abetz warned that if the business case did not stack up, the government may need to reconsider the venture.
But a year after Mr Abbott promised the grant, Cadbury's parent company Mondelez International Australia has sketched plans to develop the project with hopes the business will open in the summer of 2015-16.
Mr Abbott said in Tasmania on Thursday the government had made a commitment to Cadbury, and the state, because it had long been an iconic tourist attraction.
"We stand by our commitment, we will deliver on our commitment," Mr Abbott said.
Mondelez's corporate affairs manager, Simon Talbot, defended the use of taxpayer dollars, saying Cadbury could not justify investing in a tourism facility that was not part of its core business.
"When I look across the food and agriculture sector in Australia, those that haven't invested are in real strife," he told ABC radio in Hobart.
"I just can't ... invest in tourism money over the manufacturing asset."
Mr Talbot said Cadbury had quite openly stated its priorities to the state and federal governments.
"And they said, you know what, tourism is vital for the future state of Tasmania, and manufacturing excellence is vital. You focus on manufacturing, we'll invest in tourism."
Mr Talbot said the facility, costing more than the original $66 million announced last year, would be completely new.
"If we get signed off in the next few weeks, we'll be under construction this year," he said.
The design was being prepared in collaboration with Tasmanian tourism developer Simon Currant, and Cadbury was in a conversation with the nearby Museum of Old And New Art.
"The economic benefit if you have two great tourism facilities in the northern suburbs of Hobart is going to be quite amazing for Tasmania," Mr Talbot said.
