Business warns against budget cuts back down

Posted

December 15, 2011 15:27:32


Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings
Photo:
Unionists says a leadership challenge is inevitable if the Premier does not back down on budget cuts. (Ros Lehman: ABC News)

Tasmania’s business lobby warns tough budget measures have to continue even with a change of Premier.

Lara Giddings has lashed out at union leaders, accusing them of peddling speculation that the Infrastructure David O’Byrne is mounting a leadership challenge.

Unionists says the challenge is inevitable if the Premier does not back down on budget cuts.

David O’Byrne is believed to have the numbers to challenge Ms Giddings.

Robert Wallace from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry says further investment in the state relies on stable government.

Mr Wallace says Labor powerbrokers need to keep that in mind.

“Once they have, if there are any changes in leadership and we’re on public notice to be known that we fully support what this Government is doing in trying to bring the state back into the black, we certainly would not tolerate anything that was going to put that at risk.”

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman has called on the Greens to re-consider their alliance with Labor.

“The Government that sits in Parliament now bears no resemblance to the one that was elected just 18 months ago.”

“Mr McKim needs to start answering some questions about whether or not he believes this is delivering the political stability he promised and that’s a very real issue.”

Greens MP Cassy O’Connor has thrown her support behind the Premier.

Ms O’Connor is the latest minister to hose down the speculation, saying the Premier is doing a good job during tough economic times.

“The Premier of the day is Lara Giddings and I do think that under difficult circumstances Lara has tried to do her best by Tasmania and by the Tasmanian people.”

Tasmanian Senator Carol Brown, who spoke out against Government plans to close 20 schools under budget cuts, has also hosed down a leadership spill.

Senator Brown says it is just purely speculation.

“The State Government is doing a reasonable job in very hard circumstances.”

The Community and Public Sector Union’s Tom Lynch denies there is a conspiracy to remove the Premier.

Topics:
alp,
states-and-territories,
hobart-7000,
launceston-7250



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