Premier Will Hodgman and Greens leader Cassy O’Connor have traded barbs over a recent trade mission to Asia.
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In parliament on Tuesday, Ms O’Connor asked Mr Hodgman why he did not schedule his trade mission in the six-week winter break or the two-week gap between sittings.
“We have seen happy snaps of you on the Great Wall last week instead of in here, representing the people of Tasmania,” Ms O’Connor said.
Mr Hodgman fired back and said he had kept an eye on parliament while he was away.
“Certainly, insofar as their behaviour and conduct and performance of members opposite was concerned, I did not miss much,” Mr Hodgman said.
“In fact, it was obvious to me to that some of you could not stay in here and do your job properly because your behaviour was so disorderly and inappropriate you were ejected from this place.”
While Mr Hodgman was away from parliament last week, Ms O’Connor and her colleague Dr Rosalie Woodruff were both ejected from the house.
The pair also clashed after Ms O’Connor asked about the incarceration of Muslims in China and Mr Hodgman referred to a Multicultural Council of Tasmania newsletter about MPs and racism.
“The Leader of the Greens makes Pauline Hanson look balanced,” Mr Hodgman said.
“There are people from China living in our state, wanting to enjoy a better life here, and you are making them feel miserable.”
Mr Hodgman was forced to withdraw his comment about Ms Hanson.
Ms o’Connor said the Premier was “just trying to cover up for the fact he took a week off Parliament last week to cosy up to the Chinese Communist government.
“He can pretend more than a million Muslims aren’t suffering in northern China, but their suffering is real and the silence of leaders who pander to China’s government, will only prolong their misery,” she said.
“If he thinks Pauline Hanson would defend Muslim minorities being oppressed under Xi Jinping’s rule, he’s both delusional and clutching at straws.”
MCAT acting chief executive Raj Chopra said the newsletter was referring to a study showing migrants felt the lowest sense of belonging in Australia in the past 15 years.
“We didn’t name anyone in the newsletter,” he said.
He would not be drawn on whether Ms O’Connor should apologise for accusing Mr Hodgman of reading from the “Chinese Communist Party’s talking points” when quoting the newsletter.