Bryan Green: Abbott’s advisor has sights trained on Tasmania

Reports that one of Tony Abbott’s most trusted advisors is urging the PM to dump support for Tasmania and direct it to other states should have Premier Will Hodgman’s at panic stations, Labor Leader Bryan Green said today.

Maurice Newman, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council, called on the other states to push the Federal Government to stop “propping up” economies like Tasmania and South Australia.

“For Mr Abbott’s top business advisor to propose cutting Tasmania loose is short sighted and, frankly, frightening for the state,” Mr Green said.

“This is a man with the ear of the Prime Minister and he’s telling him to ditch Tasmania.

“This state has already copped massive cuts to health and education in the federal budget, how many more times does Mr Abbott want to lay the boots into Tasmania?

“Mr Newman’s fingerprints were all over the Commission of Audit and subsequent Budget – it is alarming that he is now flagging cutting Tasmania loose.

“Recent history tells us that when Maurice Newman says jump, Tony Abbott says how high.

“Will Hodgman must respond in the strongest manner possible.

“He needs to decide if he is in the Tasmania corner, or the blue Liberal corner.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader