Libs stalling on Labor’s West Coast support offer

Labor Leader Bryan Green says he is still waiting to hear back from the Government after offering bipartisan support for the West Coast two weeks ago.

Mr Green wrote to Premier Will Hodgman on July 10, before the Liberals announced the West Coast Taskforce, and Taskforce chair Adam Brooks last week but is still waiting for a reply.

“I have maintained from the start of this crisis that Labor stands ready to work in a constructive, bipartisan manner to help the West Coast,” Mr Green said.

“It is disappointing that neither Mr Hodgman nor Mr Brooks has bothered to respond.”

Despite not being invited to the West Coast Taskforce, Labor released its West Coast Revival vision paper on July 13.

One of the ideas put forward, after consultation with industry, was adding a West Coast stop to the burgeoning Tasmanian Whisky Trail to link the popular Hellyers Road distillery in Burnie with distilling businesses in Southern Tasmania.

Mr Green welcomed reports in today’s Advocate that there was industry support for a West Coast whisky business and said there needed to be a presence in Queenstown.

“Whisky tourism has huge potential for growth,” Mr Green said.

“It is the bedrock of the Irish and Scottish tourism industries, while Kentucky’s ‘Bourbon Trail’ attracted nearly 600,000 tourists in 2013.

“Labor will continue to put forward constructive ideas as the West Coast recovers.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader