Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Liberal Member for Bass

Thursday 17th March, 2011

Cowardly Wightman ignores north-east

Labor Minister Brian Wightman today demonstrated his inability to understand the desperate situation in the north-east when asked about the North-East Working Group that he is chairing.

I was appalled that he did not take the opportunity to explain why the north-east would not be receiving the assistance it so desperately needs when given the opportunity today in Parliament, cowardly choosing not to answer the question.

The four shovel-ready projects put forward by the Working Group that would help create jobs in the north-east have not been considered by Cabinet yet, despite Mr Wightman promising to address this last year.

Mr Wightman, a Member for Bass, seems to think the jobs and the future of those in the north-east do not deserve immediate attention. His failure to deliver anything after months of deliberation is why I resigned my position on the Working Group.

How many more jobs will disappear from the north-east? How many more families will leave the district? How many more businesses will close before Mr Wightman takes his Crown responsibilities seriously?

The cowardice displayed by Mr Wightman is nothing short of devastating for the north-east.