Prime Minister Julia Gillard is in Tasmania for two days to deal with the pokies undertakings she gave to Denison independent MHR Andrew Wilkie and for talks with the state government concerning a brittle forestry peace process.

It is possible that she will also discuss other issues such as Tasmania's budget plight and the national review of GST funds.

This is a golden opportunity for the Tasmanian government to have the ear of the PM on major issues affecting Tasmania, but the Premier will be missing in action.

Lara Giddings is into her final week of a month's leave, and has left it to her deputy, Bryan Green, to meet the PM and her entourage today.

The appalling signal to our national leader is that the issues can't be that important if the Premier is not bothering to turn up.

If Premier Giddings is ill or has plans to meet the PM privately, that's fine. Her office should say so. Otherwise, it is inconceivable that she would not front for such an important meeting, where the PM's time, concentration and efforts are momentarily fixed on beleaguered Tasmania.

This is no rubber-stamp visit for the PM. The forestry agreement is threatening to fall apart because peak conservation groups are still not satisfied. This is putting more pressure on government relations with the Greens both federally and locally.

A pokies row between independent MHRs and Ms Gillard has ramifications for the federal government's own survival, the state government's bottom line, Mr Wilkie and Tasmanian pokies operator Federal Hotels.

Next month a national inquiry into the GST is expected to result in cash-strapped Tasmania losing an even greater share of annual GST receipts.

The Gillard government has already aired its frustration with the Tasmanian government over major issues such as health funding - and the Premier is still on leave?

Lara Giddings should be on deck today, even if for a day. Snubbing the PM will not help Tasmania one iota at this important time and on such vital issues.

-BARRY PRISMALL, deputy editor