Tasmanian taxpayers continue to be kept in the dark on the full details of recipients of the $26 million Small Business Hardship Grants scheme as the Gutwein Liberal Government maintains its commitment to secrecy.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said there was no legitimate reason for the Premier to keep the details of the grants scheme secret and clearly showed the government had something to hide.
“The Premier has made what he knows should have been a routine disclosure into something unnecessarily controversial,” Ms White said.
“The secrecy surrounding the Small Business Hardship Grants Program is needless and it stinks.
“No one begrudges Tasmanian business receiving support in the middle of a pandemic but the Premier through his actions seems to be implying that there is some shame in businesses applying for assistance.
“Together with his Small Business Minister Sarah Courtney he has dragged all of the recipients of the program through the mud so the government can avoid scrutiny.
“The Public Accounts Committee has called for the public release of the grant recipients and the government must be honest and upfront instead of adopting its usual position of secrecy.
“Tasmanians have a right to know how public funds are spent, particularly after the consistent criticisms that the scheme was unfair, confusing and inconsistent.”
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
