Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
While his Federal Liberal colleagues first slashed jobs at the CSIRO in Hobart, the Premier was reduced to wringing his hands and expressing his disappointment.
Now, the Federal Liberals have forced the closure of the Australian Antarctic Division base on Macquarie Island, ending 68 years of Australian research on Macquarie Island, and the Premier is again 'disappointed'.
Really, Premier? Is that the best you can do?
This decision is the result of the Federal Liberals' savage cuts to science. It is a travesty for Antarctic, Southern Oceans and climate science and Tasmania's reputation as a hub for globally significant research.
It is no overstatement to say this is a devastating blow to Australian scientific endeavour in the Southern Ocean, and yet, the Turnbull Government apparently gave the Hodgman Government no warning.
Tasmanians are beginning to ask why this State is so consistently being neglected or punished by the Turnbull Government.
With the withdrawal of the AAD research base, management of Macquarie Island will become the responsibility of the Parks and Wildlife Service, an agency that is being bled of funds for core management responsibilities.
Instead of wringing his hands again and expressing disappointment, the Premier should be on the plane to Canberra to have this regressive, damaging decision reversed.