There will be an independent review of the company that is redeveloping the Macquarie Point site on Hobart's waterfront, following questions being raised in the Tasmanian parliament about bullying of staff and inappropriate spending.
The independent review was revealed while State Development Minister Guy Barnett was being questioned by a budget estimates committee on Tuesday.
Mr Barnett told Estimates the chairman of the Macquarie Point Development Corporation (MPDC), Brian Scullin, had commissioned an independent review of matters raised in parliament by independent Clark MP Kristie Johnston.
"I'm advised that the chair has commissioned an independent review of the issues raised, and the process to appoint an independent reviewer is currently underway, and once that review is complete I'm happy to provide a further update," Mr Barnett said.
The reviewer will be drawn from the Department of State Growth's independent auditors.
On several occasions last month in state parliament Ms Johnston called for an open inquiry into "clear failings" at Macquarie Point, which has had tens of millions of taxpayer funds ploughed into it by successive governments.
On May 5 she told parliament the department was formally alerted to accusations of bullying, manipulation and emotional abuse towards staff in 2019, there were claims the corporation was manipulating procurement practices to favour some providers, and staff had been pressured to use their personal relationships to unduly influence outcomes that favoured the corporation.
Claim of $200k spend on 'augmented reality services'
During the budget estimates hearing, Labor leader Rebecca White asked Mr Barnett about spending of taxpayer funds by MPDC.
"Can you confirm since its inception that Macquarie Point has spent approximately $600,000 on advertising and promotion, it has spent roughly $800,000 on travel, and $200,000 on augmented reality services?" Ms White asked.
Mr Barnett said he would have to take the question on notice.
Ms Johnston welcomed the news of the independent review but questioned whether former staff of MPDC would be able to participate, and whether the minister would make the results of the review public.
Mr Barnett said he would take those questions on notice.
State Growth Department secretary Kim Evans told Estimates a separate independent review into a workplace grievance between two parties was underway.
He said that review was not yet finished.
The Macquarie Point Development Corporation was established by the Tasmanian government to develop the site and remediate land that formerly hosted a mixture of industrial uses.
In 2012 the Commonwealth government gave Tasmania $45 million for the project.
