Senator Eric Abetz

Only the Liberals will protect the jobs of workers engaged in Tasmania’s rich resource sectors from the ‘Laboreens’, (Labor-Greens), preference deals, Senator Eric Abetz on behalf of the Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team said today.

“We don’t know the details of the deal. We don’t know what policies have been traded, but we do know from bitter experience in Tasmania that a vote for the Greens is a vote for Labor and a vote for Labor is a vote for the Greens which leads to wholesale job destruction.”

“Labor voters are right to feel betrayed by David Bartlett’s deception of them at the last State election. Julia Gillard is trying the same deception by her secret deal with the Greens.”

“Labor and the Greens both support the job destroying mining tax which will make mining uncompetitive with the highest tax grab in the world,” said Senator Abetz..

“The Greens support a carbon tax, which will increase costs on everything and cut jobs whilst doing nothing for the world environment.”

“The Coalition has a direct action plan to keep jobs, improve agricultural productivity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions without taxing consumers.”

The Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team’s campaign for re-election campaign will be launched tommorrow (Tuesday) by State Opposition Leader Will Hodgman at three separate venues, Burnie, Launceston and Hobart.

“As a Senate Team we truly represent the State with offices conveniently located at Burnie, Devonport, Launceston, Hobart and Rosny,” said Senator Abetz.

“Our campaign launch recognises Tasmania’s regional and geographic diversity.”

“Unlike the Greens, who have their offices and who launched their campaign in Hobart, the Liberal Party recognises the importance of all Tasmanians.”

“At tommorow’s launch Will Hodgman will warn Tasmanians about the dangers of the secret Labor/Green preference deal and how a vote for Labor or the Greens would lead to job losses, the introduction of a damaging carbon tax and an increased mining tax.”

“Senator Brown and the Greens want $600 million more from the mining tax than even Labor is proposing.”

“The Labor-Green preference deal will increase electricity prices, health insurance bills, university levies and taxes for families and businesses and will result in less infrastructure for Tasmania.”

“All the Greens do is throw a few grenades from the sidelines every now and again without actually having to do anything like balancing a budget,” Senator Abetz said. 

“Just like their Labor comrades, the Greens are all talk and no action, they are all ‘huff’ and no ‘puff’ and they stand for nothing.”