Hodgman vows to fight harder for Tasmania
Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman is copping political heat for not standing up for the island state in the federal arena.
But the Liberal leader, almost one year into the job, said his government will not again be "short-changed" as it was by the last budget handed down in Canberra, which has the potential to leave the state worse off by more than $2 billion over 11 years.
Tasmanian Labor leader Bryan Green said Mr Hodgman has let down the state on multiple fronts, including the fight for GST revenue and highway funding.
"At the end of the day he's a hero down here but he's a coward up there," Mr Green told reporters on Monday of the premier's representation in Canberra.
"He ought to be thumping the table about various issues when it comes to this state.
"But he's given up on reduced health funding to Tasmania, he's given up on reduced funding for irrigation infrastructure."
Mr Hodgman will on Tuesday deliver a State of the State address to parliament, outlining his government's plan for Tasmania for the coming year, claiming the administration has already sparked a move toward a brighter future.
"This year our job is to build on the momentum we have already created," he said in a statement.
"We are prepared to be held to account and judged on outcomes."
Mr Hodgman told the Mercury newspaper he will work closer with Canberra and refuse to accept any future deterioration in fiscal support.
"We have learned from the last federal budget process, which left us blindsided and short-changed, that it's important we engage actively and constructively with our federal colleagues to make sure we are not disadvantaged," he said.
Tasmanian Greens leader Kim Booth is sceptical about Mr Hodgman's ability to change.
"Obviously the premier has learned the lesson of (former Queensland premier) Campbell Newman and is now attempting to change his spots. But leopards don't change their spots that easily."
