The Liberal Government has been caught red handed lying about public subsidies to Forestry Tasmania.
It has been revealed the Government is deceitfully planning to transfer $30 million in equity from energy company TasNetworks to prop up Forestry Tasmania.
The revelation in Government Business Enterprise hearings makes a lie of the Government’s much publicised promise to withdraw public funding to Forestry Tasmania.
Labor Leader Bryan Green said the Liberal Government had acted deceitfully.
“This is a blatant broken election promise,” Mr Green said.
“Labor has always supported the need for operational subsidies for Forestry Tasmania but the Liberals led Tasmanians to believe that they would withdraw this funding.
“They repeated ad nauseum that subsidies would not be required because they were rebuilding the forest industry. They made the point that money would not be taken from health and education to support forestry.
“But forgoing a higher dividend from TasNetworks will inevitably place further pressure on the budget at a time when teachers, nurses and other public servants are losing their jobs.
“This proves beyond any doubt that this government is built on lies and deceit.”
Mr Green said the Government had been given multiple opportunities in the last few months to detail its plans to put Forestry Tasmania on a sustainable footing.
Peter Gutwein’s only concession was to admit the Liberals had provided Forestry Tasmania with a letter of comfort.
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader
