The Minister for Economic Development, David O'Byrne, today condemned the Liberals' shameful character assassination of renowned enterprise facilitator Ernesto Sirolli.

 

Mr O'Byrne said the Liberals' attack, launched under the cover of Parliamentary Privilige, showed they were obsessed only with negativity, and will stoop to any low to undermine Tasmania.

 

"For the Liberals to come to Budget Estimates today with a pre-conceived plan to try to denigrate the name of Dr Ernesto Sirolli is simply appalling politics at its absolute worst," Mr O'Byrne said.

 

"The Tasmanian Government has engaged Dr Sirolli to work with several Tasmanian communities in the wake of changes in our State's forest industry.

 

"His ability to engage communities and facilitate enterprise development is highly regarded, and has been employed in other areas of Australia.

 

"For the Liberal Party to hide behind Budget Estimates to launch an attack on him on the basis of who he worked for 30 years ago is disgraceful.

 

"While the Liberals' only goal is to engage in personal attacks and try to scrape up as much dirt and negativity as possible, the State Government is getting on with the job of working with Tasmanian communities to grow local economies and support job-creating enterprises," he said.