Transport workers on the crane towing a group of tourists from the Gold Country to the airport will be relocated on Wednesday, two weeks after the crane that was supposed to haul them across the Tasman was due to be moved.
The Gold Coast Courier-Mail newspaper reported that the crane is scheduled to be shipped to Tasmania on Wednesday morning from Melbourne.
A transport spokeswoman said the crane will be transported from Melbourne’s west coast to Hobart.
“The ship will then sail for Hobart, then back to Melbourne on Wednesday,” she said.
She said the ship would be at Hobart for a short time, before heading to Tasmania.
Tasmanian Labor leader Simon Crean said he was “disappointed” that the boat would not arrive in Hobart before the weekend.
He said the state had “made mistakes” and “could have done a better job” in the Goldfields.
“It is a bit disappointing to have a crane move out of Hobart and onto a ship that has not been scheduled to leave Tasmania,” Mr Crean told ABC radio.
Mr Crean’s comments came after Tasmanian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he had received “very clear” information about the “dangers” of the boat moving in the direction of the Golds.
“[The government] made mistakes with the ship and it’s a real shame it is moving this ship,” he said.
