The
Treasurer Peter Gutwein has walked away from his promises to prevent Tasmanian
businesses from closing over expensive trade waste issues.
In
August 2017, the Treasurer said:
“TasWater’s single-minded trade waste policy is having a devastating
impact on hundreds of businesses around the State. In fact, I’ve been
told it has actually contributed to businesses shutting down. It’s absolutely ridiculous
and it needs to be stopped now before it destroys more Tasmanian businesses.”
Shadow
Minister for Regional Development and Small Business, Anita Dow, said the
Treasurer today confirmed in Parliament, that TasWater – a business the
Government owns – wrote to him seeking $75 million to help industrial and small
business meet their compliance obligations.
TasWater
has also written to Labor, saying:
“It is important to note that the expense of complying with
environmental regulations also jeopardises the viability of many smaller
commercial operations like local bakeries, cafes or hairdressers who, though
small, collectively employ just as many people in Tasmania, especially in our
regions.”
“Despite
the Treasurer claiming he had fixed these issues, this letter has exposed the
truth,” Ms Dow said.
“We
have small mum and dad businesses being forced to close because they can’t
afford these costs and the Premier has stood by and watched this happen.
“The Treasurer failed to secure funding from his Federal colleagues and he has made it clear there will be no additional funds in this week’s budget to prevent more business closures in this state.”
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Small Business
