PRIME Minister Julia Gillard and her federal government cabinet came to Launceston yesterday with less than $600,000 in their back pockets to leave behind.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They instead made the most of a range of public events to see and be seen in a day that had the feel of the beginnings of a federal election campaign about it.
Ms Gillard conceded that Bass was a marginal seat.
She said that the Tasmanian issues for next year's election would be a fair share of GST for the state, jobs, keeping the National Broadband Network and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Ms Gillard kicked off the small hand-out of funds during an early morning visit to the Launceston Benevolent Society's headquarters in the Kingsway.
She announced a $50,000 grant to help the society in its planned move to larger premises at Kings Meadows.
She later refused to answer questions about Sydney radio presenter Alan Jones and his remarks about her father's death last weekend.
But she said that she would never appear on his show again and would not talk to him.
Ms Gillard officially opened the $109 million Northern Integrated Care Service and University of Tasmania Clinical School in Frankland Street.
In other staged events before last night's community cabinet attended by 350 people:
Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson gave $110,000 to Anvers Chocolate factory near Devonport for expansion.
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet announced $400,000 for Launceston's Tas-Fab steel fabrication company.
Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean turned the first sod for the AgriTas college, in Burnie.
Ms Gillard will be in Hobart today.
