Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman is copping political heat for
not standing up for the island state in the federal arena. But the Liberal leader, almost one year into the job, said
his government will not again be "short-changed" as it was by the
last budget handed down in Canberra, which has the potential to leave the state
worse off by more than $2 billion over 11 years. Tasmanian Labor leader Bryan
Green said Mr. Hodgman has let down the state on multiple fronts, including the
fight for GST revenue and highway funding. But he's given up on reduced health
funding to Tasmania, he's given up on reduced funding for irrigation
infrastructure.
Mr. Hodgman will on Tuesday deliver a State of the State
address to parliament, outlining his government's plan for Tasmania for the
coming year, claiming the administration has already sparked a move toward a
brighter future. He said his administration’s job this year is to build on the
momentum it has already created and that it is prepared to be held to account
and judged on outcomes.
Mr. Hodgman has promised to work closer with Canberra and
refuse to accept any future deterioration in fiscal support, saying that he and
his administration have learned from the last federal budget process, which
left hem and the entire state blindsided and short-changed. His administration’s
plan is to engage actively and constructively with federal colleagues to make sure
it are not disadvantaged.
However, Tasmanian Greens leader Kim Booth is skeptical
about Mr. Hodgman's ability to change. He is of the opinion that though it is
obvious that premier has learned the lesson of (former Queensland premier)
Campbell Newman and is now attempting to change his spots it will be difficult for
him to make any significant changes because “leopards don't change their spots
that easily."
William Edward Felix "Will" Hodgman (born 20
April 1969) is an Australian politician who is the 45th and current Premier
of Tasmania. He has been a member for the Division of Franklin in the Tasmanian
House of Assembly since the 2002 state election. He became premier
following the 2014 state election, having been Leader of the
Opposition since 2006. From Hobart and educated at the University
of Tasmania, Hodgman's father, uncle, and grandfather also
served in the Parliament of Tasmania. Hodgman was re-elected in the 2006
election receiving 21.98 per cent of first preferences, an increase
compared to his previous vote of 12.37 per cent in the 2002 election. This is
the third highest individual vote ever recorded in the seat of Franklin. Apart
from his Party Leadership, he was also Shadow Minister for Tourism, Economic
Development and the Arts.
By Edwina Owusu-Adjapong
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