Liberal MP Michael Ferguson has warned that a potential Labor-Greens coalition at the federal level could put thousands of Tasmanian jobs on the chopping block.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the former state treasurer said the Greens had already outlined a list of “bargaining prices” they’d push on Labor if the two parties teamed up to form government.
“I want to really wake up Tasmanians to the very genuine and real risk of a Federal Labor-Green government,” Ferguson said.
“I have seen the danger, I have seen the damage that is done to our fragile economy here in Tasmania at times where we have had Labor doing a deal with the Greens.”
Ferguson said around 15,500 Tasmanians work in aquaculture, forestry and mining – all jobs “which are actually in the sights of the Greens”.
“These are real numbers. These are real Tasmanian families. They’re our people and we’ve got to look after them,” he said.
“They want them gone. They want them put away. We saw it happen with forestry, we’re seeing it happen with salmon, aquaculture and we will see it with mining.”
“I’m genuinely committed to seeing a Dutton-led Coalition government return to Australia to get this country back on track.”
“And I’m concerned as I ever have been about the risks of a Labor-Green deal for the country affecting our people here in Tasmania, because to lose those jobs would be the equivalent of $4 billion of economic activity.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday rejected the idea of working with the Greens, saying Labor “will not govern in coalition with anyone, including the Greens”.
“… I don’t negotiate with the Greens,” he said.
Federal Greens leader Adam Bandt brushed off Albanese’s comments, pointing out his party had successfully negotiated with Labor in the past.
“We’re going to put forward some really clear propositions on the table as the starting point for [any minority government] discussions,” Bandt said.
“It will be getting dental and mental health into Medicare, being able to see the GP for free, capping rents and building homes that people can genuinely afford, ending native forest logging and stopping the opening of new coal and gas mines.”
