Tony Abbott has placed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for Tasmania on the chopping block.
Last week in his Budget-in-Reply speech, Mr Abbott flagged that, unless he says otherwise, he will place vital services and support on the chopping block:
By keeping, if needed, all Labor's budget cuts - and - by not implementing any of their budget spending measures unless specified
[BUDGET-IN-REPLY - 16 MAY 2013]
For Tasmania, these programs include:
- $500 million over 10 years for the Midland Highway
- $150 million in additional funding to support the historic Tasmanian Forests Agreement
- $42 million to support Tasmania's leading role in Antarctic research
- $22 million to support jobs, skills and accelerated investment in key sectors of the Tasmanian economy.
With Mr Abbott so far refusing to endorse these important programs, Tasmanians can only assume he will cut their funding to the bone.