By James Massola
It's the $200,000 funding promise that wasn't, and it has Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie fuming.
On August 20, the fiery Tasmanian senator publicly thanked Opposition Leader Bill Shorten for promising the funds for a feasibility study that would examine the case for a Fast Cat ferry between the regional Victorian city of Geelong and Senator Lambie's home town of Burnie.
Similar, though smaller, wave-piercing catamarans crossed the Bass Strait in the 1990s but the service was eventually cancelled because passengers on the Tasmanian-built Incat ferries couldn't cope with the rough conditions on the Strait.
But a day after Senator Lambie's public thank you, Mr Shorten said told the Geelong Advertiser that he had never made the funding commitment, but that "if Labor is elected, I said I'd look at this proposal in more detail".
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie (right) has accused Bill Shorten of deceiving her over her push for a new ferry service. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Shorten's factional ally and frontbench colleague Richard Marles, who holds the Geelong-based seat of Corio, went further, describing the ferry proposal as a "ridiculous half-baked idea".
And now, Senator Lambie is furious.
In a letter sent by the senator to Mr Shorten on Monday, obtained by Fairfax Media, Senator Lambie said she had "really enjoyed our informal meetings and policy discussions" in recent months.
"The Bill Shorten I met was very different to the untrustworthy, tricky Bill Shorten that the Liberal Party has constantly talked about. And until yesterday, I stuck up for you when people asked my opinion of you. I told those who asked that ordinary Australians could make a hand-shake deal with Bill Shorten and trust you to deliver on your promises," she wrote.
Senator Jacqui Lambie and Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons promote a Bass Strait catamaran service.
"So you can imagine my shock, surprise and bitter disappointment when you broke your promise to me about a commitment to fund a $200,000 feasibility study...after reading your frontbencher Richard Marles' public statements, it's easy to see why you broke your promise to fund the Fast Cat financial feasibility study."
The senator goes on to accuse Mr Marles' opposition to the study being motivated by his hatred of Geelong's colourful mayor, Darryn Lyons, who backs the study.
"Unfortunately, it is clear you are intimidated by Mr Marles ... in your mind it was easier to face an angry Jacqui Lambie rather than an angry Mr Marles," she added.
Senator Lambie said that if given the green light, the new ferry would see 500 people employed in Hobart, see an extra 2400 people and 1200 vehicles visit from the mainland each day and that "any claim the proposed new ship will cause the same amount of sea sickness of discomfort as the old is wild, uninformed and politically motivated".
"I look forward to your personal apology (not for disrespecting and lying to me, but to the people I represent in Tasmania) and an immediate recommitment of $200,000 funds to the Fast Cat feasibility study."
Of course, in future should you require my assistance and help - there won't by any more handshake deals. We'll put everything in black and white and have it signed."
"Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me."
A spokesman for Mr Shorten provided the same statement provided to the Advertiser four days earlier.
"I've got respect for Jacqui Lambie. She's got ideas that I'm happy to look at. If Labor is elected, I said I'd look at this proposal in more detail working in consultation with Labor's representatives in Tasmania and Geelong. There would need to be a business case and clear economic benefits before any funding could be considered," the statement said.