Hodgman silent before crucial COAG meeting

While other state leaders jostle to put their issues on the agenda at next week’s COAG retreat, Will Hodgman has been alarmingly silent.

Labor Leader Bryan Green said the Premier needs to stand-up and fights for Tasmania.

“Tasmanians have been disproportionately impacted by Joe Hockey’s assault on working-class families,” Mr Green said.

“While other Premiers are lining up to put their State’s issues front and square on the COAG agenda Mr Hodgman is – once again – missing in action.

“Jay Weatherill is going armed with four-point plan, Annastacia Palaszczuk is demanding infrastructure investment, Daniel Andrews and Mike Baird are talking about reform, but the Tasmanian Liberal Government hasn’t said a word.

“If you only listened to the Tasmanian Liberals, you wouldn’t even know this crucial meeting was on next week.

“What’s Will Hodgman going to say to the Prime Minister about his $2.1 billion cut to Tasmania’s schools and hospitals?

“The Prime Minister himself acknowledges that health inflation is placing huge pressure on our hospital system but the Premier refuses to fight for Tasmania’s lost funding”

“Last time Joe Hockey was in Tasmania he shrugged his shoulders and denied the cut even existed.

“That shows how little pressure Will Hodgman puts on his colleagues in Canberra.

“What is the Premier lobbying for when it comes to tax reform and the response to the federation white paper?

“Has the Premier even read the discussion paper? Is he not concerned that the paper refers to health and education funding being pushed back onto the states?”

“It is incredibly disappointing that the Premier is unable to take his Federal colleagues to task over their harsh cuts to health and education.

“It is clear that this Government is putting the Liberal Party ahead of the interests of the people of Tasmania.

“The Liberal Government’s lacklustre approach to COAG shows they’re – once again – happy just rolling over to Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader