CHOGM OPPORTUNITY LOST AS BARTLETT ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

And Rudd Snubs Tassie

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today described as a missed opportunity the next CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) meeting being hosted by Perth, arguing that Premier Bartlett should have seized the opportunity to have it held in Hobart after the Prime Minister succeeded in securing Australia as the host country in 2011.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that with approximately 60 Heads of State, including the Queen or her representative, attending the CHOGM it would have been a marvellous opportunity to put Tasmania on the international stage, but Premier Bartlett was obviously too busy trying to save Labor at the polls to focus on maximising opportunities for the state.

Mr McKim sad that the CHOGM is held every two years in a different member state in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, and is chaired by that nation’s Prime Minister or President.

“Premier Bartlett should have seized the opportunity to lobby Prime Minister Rudd to have the 2011 CHOGM held in Hobart,” Mr McKim said.

“This would have been an extraordinarily opportunity to sell Tasmania to the world, but obviously Mr Bartlett is more concerned about saving himself at the polls instead of prioritising Tasmania’s interests.”

“Premier Bartlett has allowed a fantastic opportunity slip through his fingers and now Perth will be the beneficiary of the national and international interest that 60 Heads of State, including the Queen, and over 1000 media representatives will bring.”

“We have also missed out on the associated meetings which usually take place in the weeks preceding the CHOGM, which consist of senior officials from different countries, as well as the parallel special events that involve non-government, business and youth organisations which are held to coincide with each CHOGM.”
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader