Premier Will Hodgman should explain how he is happy to subsidise Forestry Tasmania in excess of $50 million this financial year, but could not find a fraction of that amount for the Baroque Festival, Greens Arts spokesperson Nick McKim MP said today.
“How can it be that a make-work industry like native forest logging can receive massive subsidies, yet a fantastic little event like the Baroque Festival is sent packing?”
“It seems like the ‘jobs. jobs, jobs’ mantra only applies if it fits with the Liberal’s ideology of ‘dig it up, chop it down’.”
“It doesn’t seem possible that Campbell Newman could be made to look like a strong supporter of the Arts, yet Mr Hodgman seems to have managed it easily.”
“Like Tony Abbott’s decision to award a knighthood to Prince Phillip, Mr Hodgman should simply accept that he made a mistake, and reverse his decision.”
“The horse may have bolted, but Mr Hodgman should at least be doing what he can to salvage something from the mess he created,” Mr McKim said.