Tony Abbott drops in to Dunalley Fish Market to meet owner Bruce Chambers. Photo: Rosemary Bolger
Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has visited Tasmania's fire ravaged areas, calling on the government to expand its financial assistance scheme.
Mr Abbott met with business owners this morning at Dunalley Fish Market which survived the fires that swept through the town exactly a month ago.
The Liberal leader wants loans of up to $100,000 to be made available to businesses that weren't physically damaged but have suffered commercially.
Earlier he was briefed on the recovery effort by local emergency services and viewed some of the worst hit areas.
It is Mr Abbott's first visit to Tasmania since the disaster.
He took the opportunity to tout the Coalition's policy to duplicate the Midland Highway and plans to scrap the carbon tax.
``The message from the Coalition to the people of Tasmania is: `we want you to be a great state, not just for tourism but for business more generally.''
He will fly out later today to visit flood-hit Queensland.