The Premier has been forced to make an embarrassing retraction after misleading parliament about his presence at a federal party vote on privatising the ABC.
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In answer to the first question from Labor leader Rebecca White in parliament on Tuesday, Pemier Will Hodgman said he was not in the room when the vote was taken to support the privatisation of the ABC.
“If I was I would have voted in support of the mighty ABC, as indeed the Prime Minister and senior ministers have indicated their very strong support for the national broadcaster,” Mr Hodgman said.
“It is not accurate for the leader of the Opposition to once again shoot off without knowing the facts as did the Leader of the Greens who also tweeted that I was in the room.
“I hope that all media outlets broadcast the facts, but I warn all media outlets do not listen to the leader of the Opposition or the leader of the Greens if you want any facts.”
Labor took to Twitter with a photo of Mr Hodgman seated at a table with senator Eric Abetz who was clapping as the vote at the federal Liberal Party council was taken.
After question time Mr Hodgman was forced to clarify his earlier answer.
“In relation to a debate about the ABC at the federal council meeting of the Liberal Party last weekend, I inadvertently advised the House I was not present at the debate or vote,” he said.
“It has come to my attention that while I was present, I did not participate in the debate, nor did I vote in support of the motion.
“As the footage shows, I was more focused on my imminent address to the federal council meeting, which included a strong defence of Tasmania's GST.
“I apologise for any inadvertent error on my part and reiterate my support for the ABC remaining in public ownership. As the Prime Minister has said it always will, and I strongly support that.”
Ms White said it was shameful that Mr Hodgman did not speak up in defence of the ABC.
“I have to say that is a remarkable admission from the Premier that he forgot where he was,” she said.
”If we cannot trust you to come to this House and say where you were and what you were doing, how can we trust you standing up for our state on critical issues like the GST?
”You were in the room when it happened and you said nothing, and yet you stood up in question time today and tried to defend yourself by saying you were not even there.”
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said it was “a photo finish” that forced the Premier to apologise.
“If the picture hadn’t surfaced, would the Premier have corrected the record?,” Ms O’Connor asked.”
She said Mr Hodgman clearly did not oppose the sale of the ABC.