Inaction on joint council under fire

FRANKLIN MP Julie Collins says the lack of meetings of the Joint Commonwealth and Tasmanian Economic Council is symbolic of the Turnbull Government’s neglect of Tasmania.

The Abbott governmentfounded council has met just twice in the past two years — in April 2016 and April 2017.

“With 2017 drawing to a close, Malcolm Turnbull is running out of time to fulfil the council’s most recent commitment to meet again by the end of this year,” Ms Collins said.

The council has had a patchy past two years.

In December last year, Treasurer Scott Morrison wrote to members of the council thanking them for their contribution to the council. He said the term of the business members, Burnie businessman Dale Elphinstone, University of Tasmania pro vice-chancellor Professor Janelle Allison, Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council chief executive Wayne Bould, Tasmanian community fund chairman Lynn Mason and Coca-Cola Amatil managing director Alison Watkins, expired on December 31.

But after the Mercury reported on the standing down of members, Mr Morrison rehired them from July 1, 2017. There has been no meeting since.

Liberal senator Eric Abetz said Ms Collins never supported the council.

“This initiative of the Liberals was used to jump-start the Tasmanian economy and we have now seen hundreds of Tasmanians now move from unem- ployment into work with more jobs being created every day.”

Senator Abetz said the Prime Minister had brought the Council of Australian Governments to Hobart — the first time in more than seven years.

“The economic council will continue to meet in 2018.”

Ms Collins said the council was a key promise from the 2013 election campaign, with a pledge that it would meet quarterly. She said it had met just seven times.

“With no Tasmanians in the Turnbull Government’s ministry and groups like the economic council not even meeting, it is clear the Liberals have stopped caring about our state.”

The council was credited with giving impetus to the $203 million extension to the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme.