Before the mining boom, WA was a net receipient of GST receipts. WA’s mining success has also come at the expense of many other industries as the Australian dollar has soared. Industries like agriculture, tourism, and overseas education - all key pillars of the Tasmanian economy - have suffered. Gripped by mining-induced delusions of grandeur, Barnett conveniently forgets to mention all this.

I am interested to learn more about the origin of the $700 million Tasmania may potentially lose. Perhaps the Premier might like to enlighten the Tasmanian people as to how she arrived at this figure.

WA Liberals should respect that their quarry boom is owned by Australians.

Tasmania is part of Australia, yet the greedy WA Libs want their cake and bugger the rest of Australians.

I support the original mining tax, and Gina and her billionaire ilk could do with eating less cake.  Most Australians can see through the capricious poor bugger mining adverts with unemployed male actors in CAT boots pretending to be the salt of the earth. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19222037

Been wondering what that pain in my back was. It was the Liberals, sticking the knife in. Way to go fellas.

I can’t see a great differences between selling Tassie out to W.A., to big logging companies, or to big gaming companies.

Both the LibLab’s two hearts are in the same place.

John Hayward

Tasmamians should support Lara as she tries to ensure she gets more money from somewhere in order to allow Tasmanians to do less.
Why should we work when there’s plenty of money available to keep us all in continual holiday mode.
Good on you, Lara- grab as much as you can.

#6, so that’s what you’ve done with your life, had a holiday on the people, typical and to be expected considering your non comments.

The libs have done nothing more than their factional colleagues labor would do. Both have as many ethics as a million year old dead rock and the credibility of believers in god/s. They have already sold out Tas to multinationals and their other corporate ideological masters, so we can expect nothing else from those whose entire political lives revolve around lies, and deceit.

Will’s expertise and knowledge to run this state comes from school and an office, not one piece of actual experience in life outside his elitist ideological ilk.

Watched both la la and Will interviewed outside parliament a few weeks ago, quite a hilarious circus. Truck loads of minders arrive first, hand out questions to journalists reminding them of their obligations. Then in comes la la followed by her nodding clones to answer scripted questions as the minders hover menacingly over journalists. Any one who strays away from the scripted question is ignored or move back. La la is lost without prompting. Will and crew hover in the background awaiting their turn.

Will is a wonder to watch, he shuffles in, constantly looks at his minders for prompting and is completely speechless when he forgets what they have told him to say, or gives an answer that doesn’t fit the question. so they start again. The nodding clones behind him just nod away no matter what is said, couldn’t help it, burst out laughing and made some others giggle. Was moved on by a not very happy minder, saying something about having some respect for our leaders. Which only made me laugh more.

A.K. for Premier!  NOW!!

Yes #8! #7 is obviously someone who would govern for all equally, respect every opinion, and give brilliantly meaningful,courteous responses to media questions-and probably without a “minder” anywhere.

Over the shoulder nodders have become part of the political TV grab these days…

As A.K. says: it’s just so funny watch this psychophantic obedience.

Which is it TGC…are you unwilling to recognise or address the issue here, or incapable of it?

Are you perhaps a tiny bit jealous that Sam didn’t take you along for the ride?

If Tasmania has an entitlement to a share of GST revenue, that entitlement should be protected. The other issue here is that state Liberal party have failed to address their position on protecting the state’s interests regarding this matter. Can you address it for them, perhaps? I’d like to know where they stand, given that they will likely be in government this time next year. Tony Abbott, typically, seems to want his usual two bob each way, so that no one knows where he stands either.

Explain to me, please, how this is not a betrayal. Explain to me how the Liberals can shred the ALP for its economic performance on one hand, and then work to potentially undermine a significant revenue stream on the other. Smells a lot like hypocrisy to me, TGC, a stench that surrounds the Liberal Party at both state and federal levels.

You might have to put your piña colada down for a while. Sorry about that.

#9 Thank you TGC for your vote of confidence, bit misguided though.

If some one like me were governing Tas, it would be equally for all, even ideological nutters and would respect their opinions if they dealt with reality and not some fairy tale delusional demand or belief.

There would be no minders or spin doctors, there would be no need, the people would be informed and making the decisions. All those governing would do is make sure they were implemented as the people wished. No need for commercial in-confidence or keep decisions and other government business from the people, so no need for expensive useless staff in a fully open government. Only those with the knowledge and experience would make statements on governmental subjects, not deceptive spin doctors or denialist senior bureaucrats.

The premier would be the real representative of the people in matters of state, not some deluded deceptive ideological faction. A good leader takes the people to where they want to go and guides them in the best way possible for them to achieve their aims. A bad leader tries to take the people to where the leader wants to go and stuff the people. It doesn’t take quantum mechanics to work out where the leaders of the world and in particular Tas, stand in the leader ratings. Although doubt there’s a scale below minus zero, may be you’d know that TGC.

Mr Trevor Cowell, good of you to show where you stand in regard to the shameful motivity and anti-the-Tasmanian-people stance which has suddenly become the symbol of this State’s Liberal Party worshippers.
I note your comments have revealed that you agree and endorse the insane questing of the infamous Liberal Party head-kicker, Mr Sam MacQuestin, as to his paramount purpose for calling upon the Liberal Party leader in WA.

This tactical Liberal Party visit by him of seeking the advices and hopefully gaining more support from West Australia’s Liberal Party Premier Colin Barnett, ‘to have the levels of Federal funding for Tasmania further reduced’, is in its own way a parallel style of State seditious-like conduct.
This being so, you must also stand behind Tasmania’s most reprehensible and reviled extreme right leaning Liberal Senator bearing the rag-tag label of Eric Abetz.
So good of you to display where you source your political intelligence, I had previously held the notion that you were speaking your own words rather than those you might find after scouring out the waste-paper bins following the dispersal of this State’s Liberal Party conference attendees and other such-like Liberal Party intelligence gatherings.
I hope you receive your just rewards from such as ‘your favoured political asylum hating limp-duck Senator Eric Abetz’ for your spy-like undertakings and so-doings.

#6 TGC, are you a public servant?

Oh come on slurp it up folks, when Will Hodgman becomes Premier Colin Barnett will give Tasmanians who made the sensible choice a pat on the back.