Senator Eric Abetz

“Julia Gillard needs to take the opportunity today at Labor’s Campaign Launch to clearly spell out what impact the Labor/Green preference deal will mean for the people of Tasmania.”

“The greatest threat to Tasmanians is a Bartlett/Green type deal being installed in Canberra and make no mistake – Labor and Greens are ready to do one in Canberra,” Senator Abetz said today.

“Labor needs to explain to Tasmanians how the deal they have done with the Greens concerning the proposed mining and emissions trading taxes will impact on Tasmania’s resource sectors.”

“It is no coincidence that power prices, rates, cost of living and unemployment in Tasmania have already risen sharply since the Bartlett/Green deal.”

“To have such a deal in Canberra would be disastrous for Tasmania, unemployment would rise above the current 6.1% and cost of living pressures would spiral out of control.”

“Job security and cost of living pressures are easily the most pressing issue on the minds of all Tasmanians, and no wonder,” Senator Abetz said.

“You can’t have a mining tax and an emissions trading scheme without costing jobs – thousands of them and blowing holes in household budgets.”

“At this election the National issues will determine our future in Tasmania.”

“We need to stop the taxes and the waste and restore Australia’s economy for job security.”