A Tasmanian Liberal Senator has condemned the Independent Member for Denison’s deal with Federal Labor.
Andrew Wilkie has secured $340 million dollars to refurbish the Royal Hobart Hospital, in return for backing Julia Gillard’s Labor minority government.
Liberal Senator Eric Abetz says it is nowhere near the multi-billion dollar deal secured by the other Independents for regional infrastructure projects.
“And I dare say Andrew Wilkie in Denison is scratching his head,” he said.
But Tasmania’s acting Premier Lara Giddings says there is nothing wrong with Mr Wilkie’s deal.
“I think that Andrew Wilkie did a very good job in working with Julie Gillard around the issues that really affect Tasmania,” she said.
“He wanted to protect the Royal Hobart Hospital and he has helped us to do that.”
Ms Giddings says the result will also ensure the continued roll-out of the National Broadband Network.
Andrew Wilkie has rejected the claim he was short-changed in his deal.
“Eric Abetz’s comment this morning that I should be kicking myself for only getting $100 million is an absolutely silly thing to say,” he says.
“Because he knows as well as I do that for a start I have secured $100 million up-front, plus another $240 million to come out of the health and hospitals fund.
“Now that fund wasn’t going to be opened in the foreseeable future.”
