Left out of the sphere of influence again

Tasmania is at a disadvantage without a seat in the ministry, says Julie Collins

MALCOLM Turnbull’s decision to once again overlook any Tasmanian senators for his ministry caps another year of the Federal Liberal Government leaving our state off the map.

When I’ve raised the issue of Tasmania’s lack of senior representation in Canberra people naturally ask who of our state’s Liberal senators should be in the ministry.

But the point isn’t who should be in the ministry. It’s that without senior representation, Tasmania will continue to miss out. Almost every major decision made by the Federal Government is done by ministers.

Without senior Tasmanian representatives our state has no one seriously arguing the case for our interests.

In defending the decision not to include any Tasmanians in the ministry, Malcolm Turnbull said: “that is, I guess, a function of the small team from Tasmania in the Parliament, at least on our side of the Parliament at the moment.”

By saying this Malcolm Turnbull has effectively admitted that because Tasmanians didn’t vote for his government at the last election he doesn’t care.

The Liberal senators from our state have argued they can be influential backbenchers, but Tasmanians will see through the spin.

Going into a football match it’s easy to argue the entire club — including players who don’t end up on the team list — influence the outcome of the game. But where would you rather be when you want to win: on the ground or sitting in the stand?

Our state has missed out again and again under the Turnbull Government.

The greatest threat to our state, and the most prominent example of the Tasmanian Liberals’ failure to stand up for our state and influence the Federal Government, is potential changes to the distribution of the GST.

The only reason billions of dollars of revenue is at risk is because the Turnbull Government initiated the Productivity Commission review into the distribution of the GST. The draft report into GST distribution recommends changes that would cost our state dearly.

An admission from Treasurer Scott Morrison after releasing the report that Tasmania would require a transition plan is confirmation the Turnbull Government is coming for our fair share.

It is clear the Tasmanian Liberal senators have no influence in Canberra. They have no desire to defend our state.

The 2016-17 Federal Budget delivered no new opportunities for our state and failed to address the crises in Tasmania’s hospitals caused by the Liberals’ cuts to health.

Sadly, the majority of the $2.1 billion cuts to Tasmanian schools and hospitals from the Liberal’s 2014 Budget remain.

The Liberals have also failed to restore a permanent Australian Federal Police presence at Hobart Airport.

Despite the removal being condemned by the Tasmanian Government, Australian Federal Police Association and Police Association of Tasmania, the Turnbull Government does nothing.

International events this year have only underscored the need to return the AFP. Labor has committed to restoring the presence if elected.

If the Tasmanian Liberal senators make New Year’s resolutions it must be to start fighting for Tasmania. They should also stop the spin and admit our state is hurt by the lack of senior representation in Canberra.

Next year can be a time of opportunity for Tasmania.

Our state has great potential and with strategic investments from the Federal Government we can take advantage of the opportunities that exist for further growth.

Instead of being apologists for Malcolm Turnbull, the Tasmanian Liberals should prioritise these opportunities and start putting Tasmania first. Julie Collins is Federal Member for Franklin and Labor’s spokeswoman for ageing and mental health.