Dean Cocker is at it again, one day before Tasmania’s state election, with full page newspaper ads warning voters about the perils of minority government with the Greens hovering in the wings.
Cocker has authorised the ads, which state in huge letters: “Tasmania Just Can’t Afford Another Minority Government with the Greens!” It goes on: ‘Make the right choice for Tasmania … DON’T VOTE GREEN.”
Crikey can reveal that Cocker works for The JAC Group, from 13 Elphin Rd, Launceston — the address he gives in the ads. The JAC Group is owned by Joe and Alida Chromy. Mr Chromy is a well known businessman in northern Tasmania, who has invested heavily in many enterprises, including the wine industry.
Along with another prominent northern Tasmanian business figure, Errol Stewart, he bought the old Devil Cat terminal at George Town on picturesque York Bay from the Lennon Government. The secret sale was revealed in a Government Business Scrutiny Committee hearing in March last year, but under a confidentiality clause, how much money changed hands for the prime site wasn’t disclosed.
Mr Stewart is a director of the Jackson Motor Company in Tasmania, and has the dealership for Ford, Volkswagon and Suzuki. Like Chromy, he has been involved in many enterprises, among them, the hugely successful development of the Old Seaport complex on the Tamar River in Launceston.
Crikey was unable to speak to Cocker this morning, who was out of the office and hadn’t taken a mobile with him.
So we have been unable to ask him if he paid for the costly ads, or whether he was the front man for others.
If so, he is in good company with Hobart PR man Tony Harrison, who has been the front for Michael Kent and other southern business identities, in an ad campaign against minority government and the Greens.
