John Short’s claims about the State Government are completely false and self-serving nonsense.
Today’s media stunt from Mr Short has more to do with the fact that he’s a Labor candidate at the next federal election and is trying desperately to repair his profile after he dragged down the popular incumbent Senator Lisa Singh to take her spot on Labor’s Senate ticket.
The only job Mr Short really cares about is the Senate job that he’s chasing.
The truth is, the Hodgman Liberal Government is championing our competitive strengths in advanced manufacturing and defence.
We’ve long been on the record saying that Tasmania deserves its share of defence spending and we are doing everything we can to make that happen, because more defence spending in Tasmania will create jobs and grow the economy.
Just this week, I’ve been at the Pacific Maritime 2015 Defence Expo in Sydney with the TasPac Maritime Group (TPMG) who are leading Tasmania’s bid for the Pacific Patrol Boat Contract. The groups is made up of its joint venture partners ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Australia (TKSMA) and UGL Engineering with vessel construction by Incat and Haywards Steel.
I was at the Expo to lobby on behalf of Tasmania’s advanced manufacturers and to raise the profile of Tasmania’s defence capabilities, especially when it comes to the Pacific Patrol Boat tender.
During the expo, I spoke personally with the Chair of the Joint Defence and Trade Standing Committee Teresa Gambaro MP and hosted her and committee member Dr Dennis Jensen at the Tasmania stand yesterday afternoon where we highlighted our capability, design attributes and the benefits the TasPac proposal will deliver.
Just last month we also joined the Elphinstone Group and Team Sentinel’s bid launch for a share of the Commonwealth’s $10 billion LAND 400 project, the ADF’s new light-armoured vehicle.
For anyone to suggest we aren’t 100 per cent supporting our companies to get a greater share of defence spending is just ridiculous.
John Short may be an endorsed Labor Senate candidate but he should do his homework before he goes around peddling mud and false claims.
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