Labor has accused the Tasmanian government of lending $20 million to Liberty Bell Bay despite receiving a report weeks earlier showing the manganese smelter was likely insolvent.
Deputy Labor leader Janie Finlay said the state and Commonwealth governments were given the financial information around June 24, 2025, before the loan was announced on August 18, 2025.
“On or around the 24th of June 2025, both the Commonwealth and the state governments were provided information that demonstrated that Liberty Bell Bay were insolvent,” she said.
Finlay questioned whether the government understood the information or pressed ahead regardless.
“Did…