Bill Shorten throws down Bridgewater Bridge funding challenge

FEDERAL Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has refused to back Tasmanian Labor’s decision to head to the state election in March with a ban on pokies in pubs and clubs.

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten and Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White at the Bridgewater Bridge for the funding announcement. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

FEDERAL Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has refused to back Tasmanian Labor’s decision to head to the state election in March with a ban on pokies in pubs and clubs.

The policy unleashed a torrent of anti-Labor advertising, with debate raging since about whether it sank the party’s campaign.

Labor branches interstate have been reluctant to take on the powerful poker machine lobby, which wields significant clout through its big clubs in marginal electorates.

Tasmanian Labor has stood by its stance, which was also strongly backed by welfare groups, but Mr Shorten continues to steer clear of the debate.

“I’m going to leave the judgment of the Tasmanian election to Tasmanians,” he said.

“I do congratulate Tasmanian Labor on their performance. The function of the Labor Party is to win, to stand up for working and middle class people.

“We weren’t successful on this occasion but you know my money’s on Bec White. I think she’ll be an outstanding premier of Tasmania in the future.”

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Mr Shorten was speaking at Bridgewater, spruiking a $100 million contribution to begin a new bridge crossing.

The area is also close to ground zero in the state’s battle against gambling addiction, and the Opposition Leader said he could speak from family experience on the issue.

“It is destructive,” he said.

“There’s plenty of solutions on how you work it through.

“There’s no doubt that it is a problem and of course Bec White and Tasmanian Labor’s working through what they think are the best solutions.”

The push to replace the 1940s Bridgewater Bridge has been running for many years.

The Labor Leader has announced a $100 million “down payment” on the $576 million new bridge, which was recently short-listed by Infrastructure Australia.

The Turnbull Government should at least match the commitment in next month’s Federal Budget, Mr Shorten said.

The Liberal State Government said Labor’s promise had short-changed the state by $360 million under the 80-20 federal-state funding arrangements for major projects.

“Under Mr Shorten’s plan, we’d get less than a quarter of a bridge,” state Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff said.

“A new Bridgewater Bridge will form part of the next state and federal road funding agreement, due to commence in 2019.”

A concept image of a replacement Bridgewater Bridge.

Mr Shorten said his $100 million pledge would get the process started on the long-awaited replacement for the 1940s-built bridge.

“We need to make sure that we get the right design,” he said.

“We need to make sure that we consult people, including the Aboriginal population, to make sure that we adhere to all the cultural importances.

“It’s a down payment, which means that we’re open to doing more.

“Tasmania has been receiving the raw end of the deal from Mr Turnbull and his predecessor Mr Abbott for too long.”

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State Opposition Leader Rebecca White welcomed the promise.

“It gives a clear signal to Infrastructure Australia and to the Tasmanian Liberal Government that they need to get cracking,” Ms White said.