Tas govt quizzed over new police boat

Tasmania's new $8.6 million police boat won't go as fast as it was meant to and the state government has been forced to defend a decision to award the construction tender to an interstate ship builder.

In state parliament on Tuesday the Labor opposition peppered Police Minister Rene Hidding with questions about the contract, citing right-to-information data showing the vessel should have had a top speed of 30 knots, but under the preferred West Australian tender, will reach a maximum of 28 knots.

"A series of tenders were received ... sadly there was no compliant Tasmanian bid. There was a full probity process in place with this and I'm absolutely convinced Tasmania Police followed it to the letter," Mr Hidding said, adding that the long-distance off-shore vessel is due to be complete by the end of June 2017.