Will Hodgman has refused to come clean on why the Government has failed to invest in vital Burnie Port upgrades.
The potential for job-expansion in mining, agriculture, forestry and tourism relies on the Burnie Port upgrades.
Yet despite calls from TasPorts that $80 million is needed to grow the Burnie Port, the Liberals have failed to allocate any state money to the project in the10 year infrastructure pipeline released last week.
In Question Time today Labor Member for Braddon, Anita Dow, asked Will Hodgman why he has abandoned the Burnie Port expansion project.
“Will Hodgman tried to pass off Federal spending as his own,” Ms Dow said.
“It is a fact that Will Hodgman has failed to invest in a project that is crucial to protect and grow Tasmanian jobs at a time when the state desperately needs leadership on jobs.
“Businesses have told us that capacity constraints at the Burnie Port are costing them thousands and are particularly jeopardizing new jobs and investment in the minerals sector.
“Will Hodgman is a part-time Premier who seems oblivious to the jobs emergency that is getting worse under his watch.
“More than 5100 full time Tasmanian jobs have been lost in the past year with the North-West and West Coast suffering severely under the Hodgeman Liberal Government.
“This is yet another example of how people on the North-West Coast and in regional Tasmania are being left behind by the Liberals.
“Will Hodgman needs to come clean on why he has completely abandoned the Burnie Port and why continues to turn his back on Tasmanians living in regional areas.”
Anita Dow MP
Labor Member for Braddon
