Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
The Premier needs to explain to Tasmanians whether he sought advice from the tourism industry on the best brand marketing spend to promote Tasmania in light of the $20 million Hawthorn sponsorship deal.
It is now clear that almost half the $20million deal is the sponsorship component, which effectively pays to have the word 'Tasmania' printed on a footy jumper.
Without question, the Tourism Industry Council and its statewide members could have come up with a more effective, creative way to promote the state for almost $10 million over five years.
Did the Liberal Government ask Hawthorn negotiators whether the team would still play at Aurora stadium - generating economic activity in Launceston - without the hefty sponsorship fee?
Or did it, in its cynical desire to shore up votes in Bass, simply roll over at the negotiating table and give Hawthorn everything they asked for?