DESPITE the Liberal Party's support of the proposed Gunns Tamar Valley pulp mill, Opposition Leader Will Hodgman was yesterday critical of comments made by Premier Lara Giddings in support of the project.
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On Saturday Ms Giddings said the state desperately needed the project.
Yesterday Mr Hodgman reaffirmed his party's support for the mill but said former premier Paul Lennon was pulling the strings in relation to Ms Giddings's position.
"Ms Giddings's statement that the pulp mill will save the Tasmanian economy is straight out of Paul Lennon's playbook," he said.
But Labor dismissed Mr Hodgman's comments.
"I think this is classic diversion politics," Health Minister Michelle O'Byrne said.
"As a leader he's been particularly weak on a number of issues - they've changed their position on the public service and the role (of that) in sustainability within the budget, and they've stepped back from their 35-member Parliament position - a position they held very strongly."
Human Services Minister and Tasmanian Greens MHA Cassy O'Connor said she was confident that Ms Giddings would "chart her own course".
"Anyone who knows Lara knows she's a very strong-willed person and she has her own very firm ideas, and I know that as Premier particularly involved in this forest dynamic she'd be talking to range of individuals in the state."
