Today’s announcement that the taxpayer will foot a $50,000 bill for the Treasurer to, amongst other things, spruik the pulp mill to potential financiers just proves the Premier can’t be trusted on anything he says.
The Tasmanian Liberals have always supported the pulp mill project, providing it meets environmental guidelines. We want this project to secure finance and we also want to see the jobs alluded to for the North West Coast materialise.
Unlike the Premier, we have never used the pulp mill as a political pawn. Today, that shallow “line in the sand” stunt of the Premier’s has blown up in his face and his credibility is gravely diminished.
On June 30 last year, Mr Bartlett said:
The government has drawn a line in the sand regarding any future government involvement in this project…the success or otherwise of the pulp mill is entirely in the proponent’s hands. The Tasmanian Government has done what is reasonable and responsible.
Today’s announcement proves that the Premier either doesn’t have control of his own party or he wasn’t being honest with Tasmanians when he announced his so-called line in the sand.
This is not the first time the Premier has promised one thing and done another, and Tasmanians don’t like his untrustworthiness and insincerity one little bit.
Peter Gutwein MP Shadow Treasurer
