Scientific community lobby saves Antarctic Research Station
Hodgman blindsided by Turnbull yet again
Premier has appalling track record in standing up to Canberra
After being blindsided by his Canberra colleagues over their shock announcement to close Tasmania’s Antarctic Division Research Station on Macquarie Island, Premier Will Hodgman has no place claiming victory over the Turnbull Government’s subsequent backflip.
Elwick Labor MP Josh Willie said pressure from the media and the scientific community had resulted in the last minute reprieve for the important facility and it was deeply cynical for the Premier to now be attempting to claim victory.
“Will Hodgman admitted that his Federal colleagues had told him nothing about their decision around Macquarie Island and he had found out at the same time as the rest of Tasmania,” Mr Willie said.
“He was blindsided, pure and simple, just as he has been so many other times by the Turnbull Government which has no intention of negotiating with a weak Premier which it holds responsible for putting himself front and centre of the recent federal election and helping each of its three Members lose their seats.
“Time and again – on Federal health and education funding, on GST dollars, on scientific jobs like those cut from the CSIRO – Will Hodgman has shown Tasmanians he is incapable of negotiating for this state and is considered a pushover by Canberra.
“It was an intense backlash by the media and from the scientific community over the past three days that resulted in this decision by Canberra, not anything Will Hodgman says he did.
“But now that the Federal Government has reconsidered, it is time for the Turnbull Government to also increase funding for this important research centre.
“Canberra must commit to providing funding to upgrade Macquarie Island’s ageing facilities and to ensure there is a year-round scientific research presence at the centre.
“That’s what Mr Hodgman should be doing now – lobbying Canberra to ensure this backflip is not only a temporary commitment.”
Josh Willie MP Labor Member for Elwick
