Group reboot aids economy
THE Federal Government will reappoint Tasmanian business members of the Joint Commonwealth and Tasmanian Economic Council despite the group having met just twice in two years.
JCTEC was established by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott in 2013. It last met in April 2017 and before that in April 2016.
The business members of the council are Tasmania’s richest man Dale Elphinstone, UTAS Professor Janelle Allison, chief executive of the Tasmanian Chamber of Minerals and Energy Council Wayne Bould, former chair of the Local Government Association of Tasmania Lynn Mason and the group managing director of Coca Cola Amatil Alison Watkins.
Their appointment had been due to lapse on June 30 and as of last Thursday had not been approached to continue.
However, Regional Development Minister John McVeigh says current business members will be reappointed for another 12 months
“JCTEC has helped deliver a number of big wins for Tasmania, including the redevelopment of the University of Tasmania in Burnie and Launceston, an increase in the freight equalisation scheme and over $100 million in irrigation projects,” he said. “The policies of the Turnbull and Hodgman Liberal governments have improved Tasmania’s economic performance.”
The reboot comes as voting in the Braddon by-election kicks off on July 10.
Labor’s Justine Keay is seeking re-election in the seat of Braddon after she was forced to stand down as the holder of dual citizenship. Her main opponent is Liberal Brett Whiteley, a former federal MP.
Franklin MP Julie Collins said the Turnbull Government should explain why it persisted with a council that had failed to meet once this year.
“How much is this seemingly dormant council costing Tasmanian taxpayers and what it has achieved in the time it has failed to meet?”
Political membership of the council includes Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Premier Will Hodgman, Treasurer Peter Gutwein and Dr McVeigh. Mr Turnbull has visited Tasmania three times this year but no meeting has been held.