Liberals accused of ignoring the state’s South during election campaign

The Liberals have been accused of blatantly pork barrelling in northern Tasmania while ignoring the needs of the state’s fast-growing South.

From left, Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter, Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and Glenorchy City Council Mayor Kristie Johnston. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

THE Liberals have been accused of ignoring the needs of the state’s fast-growing South to chase votes in marginal Northern seats ahead of the federal election.

Liberal state director Sam McQuestin on Wednesday told the Advocate newspaper that he was planning to pour the bulk of his party’s resources into trying to win the marginal seats of Bass and Braddon from Labor on May 18.

“I won’t go into specifics, but we will be dedicating nearly all of the resources available to us to make sure everyone in Bass and Braddon understands that we are for the North and Labor is focused on Hobart,” Mr McQuestin said.

Liberal Party state director Sam McQuestin. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

When asked by the Mercury whether those comments meant there would be no funding for southern Tasmania ahead of the federal election, Mr McQuestin replied: “NO”.

But three Southern mayors slammed the Liberals for focusing their efforts on only half the state.

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said federal government investment should be based on need, “not on the basis of a political party’s need for votes”.

“I think people are sick and tired of missing out on federal investment because they don’t live in a marginal electorate,” Cr Winter said.

“We’re down here in the fastest-growing municipality in Tasmania with major unfunded infrastructure projects and not a dollar committed to them.”

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds added: “I think many Hobart residents have been suspicious for a long time that we don’t get fair attention during federal elections and that unfortunately a lot of funding gets tied into politics.

“These comments really just confirm a concern that many people in Hobart have about how politics and marginal seats seem to dominate a lot of decision-making at the federal level.”

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston said politically motivated parochialism was holding the state back and called for greater clarity on southern projects, including the Hobart City Deal.

“Our view is it’s government responsibility to look after people across the state, and our communities experience the same difficulties with access to health and education, they experience difficulties in accessing employment and the same infrastructure issues,” Alderman Johnston said.

MORE ELECTION NEWS:

STRONG NUMBERS AT PRE-POLL VOTING CENTRE

CANDIDATE GIVES RIVALS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY

LIBS SIGN OFF ON WHELAN’S CAMPAIGN

Federal Franklin Labor MHR Julie Collins described Mr McQuestin’s comments as a “new low”.

“Labor doesn’t base our policies on the postcode of where you live but on how every Tasmanian can benefit from better opportunities in life,” Ms Collins said.

Labor has copped heat for committing $50 million to Mona’s proposed hotel as part of its broader Tasmanian tourism package. Opposition leader Bill Shorten announced the package in Hobart flanked by senior Labor figures.

LEGACY ISSUES RESOLVED WITH LABOR’S CASH INJECTION

OPPOSITION PLEDGES $120 MILLION TO BOOST TOURISM

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has not visited the South since the election was called but has made several trips to the North, with the Liberals viewing Bass and Braddon as within reach.

Mr McQuestin said on Wednesday only the Liberals could be trusted to “deliver on jobs, fund health properly and protect the Tasmanian way of life”.

“Labor’s priorities are all over the show, which is confirmed by their plan to give Mona $50 million of taxpayer money,” he said.