Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is also to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Ludwig. I refer to the failure of the Rudd Labor government and in particular the federal member for Bass, Jodie Campbell, to honour their pre-election support for the coalition’s promise to expand Launceston’s Centrelink call centre, thereby leaving 150 northern Tasmanians without jobs. Does the minister agree with the assessment of the Labor Premier of Tasmania, who said in a media release yesterday, which I have with me today, that this is ‘a bitter pill’ and that the Rudd Labor government ‘is taking northern Tasmanians for granted’? Or does the minister agree with the assessment of the former federal Labor member for Bass, now state member for Bass and Tasmanian Minister for the Environment and the Arts, Michelle O’Byrne, who also backs the coalition promise and who said that these decisions are not about money but people’s lives and the ability to live, work and raise families?