Senator Eric Abetz

TASMANIA has been left off the map in the Rudd Government’s last Budget before the election, the Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team said tonight.

“Once again Labor has shown contempt for Tasmanian voters, again failing to allocate meaningful, additional funding to the State,” Senator Eric Abetz, speaking on behalf of the Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team, said.

“Tasmanian Labor Members and Senators have delivered nothing, which should come as no surprise given both their past record and recent statements.

“One Tasmanian Labor Member is reported today to have said she neither pitched specific ideas, nor knew of any targeted benefits for the State.

“Nothing was asked for by Tasmanian Labor and certainly nothing was delivered.

“Over a billion dollars has been committed to rail infrastructure across Australia, but not one cent is for Tasmania’s crumbling network.

“What is all the more galling for Tasmanians is that we will continue to pay our full share of the debt and interest racked up by Labor’s reckless and wasteful spending.

“To add to the pain Labor is introducing a new tax that will strike at the heart of Tasmania’s mining industry.

“Combined with last year’s Budget when the State got next to nothing, it is clear the only way to get real action for Tasmania is to change the Government.”