Chilling Warning from Greens
Greens leader Peg Putt has spelled out a chilling foretaste of the economic chaos Tasmanians could expect in a minority government.
In an article published in today’s Australian newspaper, Ms Putt admits the Greens will block the budget – bringing down the government - unless they get what they want.
Premier Paul Lennon says the admission will send shivers down the spines of the business community.
“This is exactly what we’ve been warning.
“With this simple statement, Peg Putt has made it clear that the certainty Tasmania has enjoyed for the past seven and a half years will disappear in an instant.
“All of the changes we have seen in Tasmania over the past seven and a half years – 32,000 new jobs, growing population and the nation’s strongest economy - will be at immediate risk.
“Compare that to the 10,000 jobs Tasmania lost in less than two years of minority government between 1996 and 1998.
“The Greens have blackmailed minority Governments before. We will not be held to ransom and nor should Tasmanians find that proposition acceptable.”
In today’s article, Ms Putt says: “I’m not about to sit here and say: 'you can get the passage of your budget for nothing'…..we’re not here to be beautiful losers. We are here to achieve our policy agenda, just like the other parties and we have just as much right off the back of our vote to try and secure the things that we stand for.”
Mr Lennon says that threat alone will serve as a warning notice to potential investors.
“It means that the Greens will block us from making any difficult decisions.
“In dumping their drugs policy, and in back-flipping their policy on the Sydney ferry, they publicly said they had changed their views because there were votes in it.
“That’s not what good Government is about.
“Tasmania has changed for the better – socially and economically – because of the certainty we have been able to bring with majority government.
“The hard decisions we have made have encouraged investment – more jobs, new opportunities, stronger regional communities and a better lifestyle for all Tasmanians.
“Peg Putt’s threat ends that certainty in a single stroke.”
| Further information: | Tasmanian Government Communications Unit Phone: (03) 6233 6573 |