Harriss outsourcing his responsibilities

Resources Minister Paul Harriss continues to skirt his responsibilities to his portfolio, bringing in outside help at significant cost to taxpayers as he continues to show he can’t do the job, Labor Leader Bryan Green said today.

The Liberal Government has hired a Hobart PR company at the price of $150,800 to develop a “strategic growth plan” for forestry.

The Hodgman Government is also paying a Hobart accounting firm an undisclosed figure to administer grants of $10,000 each from Commonwealth funding of $1 million to Forestry Tasmania and Gunns contractors and sub-contractors.

“Paul Harriss must explain why this work can’t be done by the government or the departments,” Mr Green said.

“The embattled Minister is clearly skirting these responsibilities because he isn’t up to the job.

“Why is the Hodgman Government hiring $150,000 spin doctors to develop a strategic ‘growth plan’ for forestry?

“How much is the Hodgman Government paying an accounting firm to administer a program that could be run by State Growth?

“Despite all their tough talk, the Liberals continue to keep forestry at arm’s length and waste valuable taxpayer funds on things like external spin doctors.

“It is clear Mr Harriss is more interested in political spin than the best interests of the industry.

“Why is Mr Harriss washing his hands of these issues by farming out work that could be done by government departments to private businesses?

“Paul Harriss has lost the faith and confidence of the industry and refuses to take responsibility for his own portfolio.

“Mr Harriss is light on for solutions and genuine support for the industry and heavy on for expensive stunts and PR exercises.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader