Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham, International Education Minister Richard Colbeck, Liberal MHRs Eric Hutchinson, of Lyons, Andrew Nikolic, of Bass, and Brett Whiteley, of Braddon, met to discuss the university’s expansion plans on Wednesday.

The $300 million plan to relocate UTAS includes $150 million in Commonwealth funding for campuses in the north and north-west.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten announced last week that Labor would put $150 million towards the project if elected. 

Mr Birmingham said the proposal was being carefully considered for the contribution it could make to the government’s economic plan.

With an election looming, it is expected that further announcements are still to come. 

“The Coalition has already released reform proposals to ensure increased access to our universities that would be very beneficial to Tasmania,” he said.

Mr Colbeck said the topic of education in Tasmania had featured in recent conversations with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. 

“We’re looking at making strategic decisions that benefit Tasmania into the future and there are a number of other elements that I think we can benefit from,” he said.

“We must ensure we make sound, strategic decisions.

“It’s an opportunity to innovate, grow high-tech knowledge based jobs and start to change the basis of the economy in Tasmania so it’s not just a cargo-cult mentality, we can be a knowledge-based economy.”

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the state government had already shown their support for the relocation project.

“We expect during the election campaign there will be more announcements to come,” Mr Rockliff said.

“[We are] supporting the very exciting concept of moving the university campus into the centre of Launceston at Inveresk.”