THE state opposition fears Tasmania may suffer greatly from the political fallout of the federal Liberal leadership coup. Opposition Leader Bryan Green seized on the prime ministerial spill on Tuesday, arguing Tasmanian Liberal MPs had left the state in a perilous position by backing ousted leader Tony Abbott. ‘‘All seven Tasmanian Liberal MPs have been joined to Tony Abbott at the hip and now will be left out in the cold,’’ Mr Green said. ‘‘Isn’t it true that yesterday’s [Monday’s] treachery in the Liberal Party is a disaster for you and more importantly a disaster for Tasmania?’’ he asked the Premier. But Premier Will Hodgman pledged to work constructively with new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, after offering ‘‘great friend’’ Tony Abbott his full support on Monday. ‘‘My relationship with the new Prime Minister has always been very positive,’’ he said. ‘‘I will continue to work hard with the federal government, as I have been doing, to achieve good outcomes for Tasmania.’’ However, Mr Green argued their relationship was unworkable. ‘‘The last time you dealt with Malcolm Turnbull, he publicly mocked you, saying you’d drunk the fibre-to-the-premises Kool-Aid as you unsuccessfully lobbied for a better NBN for Tasmania,’’ he said. Mr Hodgman countered by quoting Mr Turnbull’s past comments to ABC Radio. ‘‘He said this, and I quote, ‘I have a very, very good relationship with Will,’’ Mr Hodgman said. Mr Green insisted the Premier should take up the fight for essential services funding. ‘‘By your own admission, Tasmania’s health and education systems were dudded to the tune of $2.1 billion in the 2014-15 federal budget.’’ Mr Hodgman said he would work alongside Mr Turnbull and his counterparts. ‘‘The alternative is a buffoon who thinks the best thing you can do is go up to Canberra and bang on a table,’’ he said.
THE state opposition fears Tasmania may suffer greatly from the political fallout of the federal Liberal leadership coup.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green seized on the prime ministerial spill on Tuesday, arguing Tasmanian Liberal MPs had left the state in a perilous position by backing ousted leader Tony Abbott.
‘‘All seven Tasmanian Liberal MPs have been joined to Tony Abbott at the hip and now will be left out in the cold,’’ Mr Green said.
‘‘Isn’t it true that yesterday’s [Monday’s] treachery in the Liberal Party is a disaster for you and more importantly a disaster for Tasmania?’’ he asked the Premier.
But Premier Will Hodgman pledged to work constructively with new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, after offering ‘‘great friend’’ Tony Abbott his full support on Monday.
‘‘My relationship with the new Prime Minister has always been very positive,’’ he said.
‘‘I will continue to work hard with the federal government, as I have been doing, to achieve good outcomes for Tasmania.’’
However, Mr Green argued their relationship was unworkable.
‘‘The last time you dealt with Malcolm Turnbull, he publicly mocked you, saying you’d drunk the fibre-to-the-premises Kool-Aid as you unsuccessfully lobbied for a better NBN for Tasmania,’’ he said.
Mr Hodgman countered by quoting Mr Turnbull’s past comments to ABC Radio.
‘‘He said this, and I quote, ‘I have a very, very good relationship with Will,’’ Mr Hodgman said.
Mr Green insisted the Premier should take up the fight for essential services funding.
‘‘By your own admission, Tasmania’s health and education systems were dudded to the tune of $2.1 billion in the 2014-15 federal budget.’’
Mr Hodgman said he would work alongside Mr Turnbull and his counterparts.
‘‘The alternative is a buffoon who thinks the best thing you can do is go up to Canberra and bang on a table,’’ he said.
