LYONS Liberal MHR Eric Hutchinson has described claims that the federal government has refused requests for fox eradication program funding to be diverted to save Tasmanian devils as “gross hypocrisy.’’
Mr Hutchinson said this morning that state Environment Minister Brian Wightman’s claims were disappointing and not true.
“Mr Wightman is using the opportunity of the pending state election to have a whack at the federal government,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.
He said that it was unfortunate that Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson had also become involved in the hypocrisy.
Mr Wightman told ABC radio this morning that federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt had refused a request to allow money for the state’s controversial fox program to be diverted to efforts to save the Tasmanian devil.
Mr Wightman said that the federal government needed to justify why it was spending billions of dollars elsewhere but defunding a Tasmanian program.
Senator Whish-Wilson said that he could not understand the federal government decision.
But Mr Hutchinson said that the application to divert the fox program money had been made to the previous Labor federal government .
“When that government knocked back the request these people were silent,’’ he said.
“This is base politics at a time of a looming state election.’’
Mr Hutchinson said that he had spoken again to Mr Hunt this morning about devil research money.
“I have been working with Mr Hunt for some time on this and other matters,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.
“I am confident that money will flow to the Tasmanian devil program.’’
LYONS Liberal MHR Eric Hutchinson
