Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I have been misrepresented most grievously. Yesterday in the Tasmanian House of Assembly, the Greens health spokesperson asked Premier Lara Giddings to detail how much of the $340 million I secured for the Royal Hobart Hospital would be deducted from Tasmania's future GST allocation. The Premier is reported as saying $88 million will be clawed back each year for three years, which would amount to a total of $264 million. This figure is a fantasy, apparently concocted by the Tasmanian Labor government to shift blame to me for the dreadful state of the Tasmanian budget, a fantasy perpetuated by the Greens who do not want the hospital to be rebuilt and are prepared to play political games with public health policy.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Denison must go to where he has been misrepresented.

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, the fact is that the Commonwealth Grants Commission, not the Premier of Tasmania, is the authority on this matter and in its report this year the commission identified a GST clawback of $59 million. Future figures are unknown although the federal Treasury advises most of the $340 million will be new money.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Denison is now debating the issue.

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.