wins no friends and no votes in Westbury
primed for a fight
must go back to the drawing board
Today’s visit by Peter
Gutwein and Elise Archer to Westbury has done nothing to reduce distress in
that community over the proposed location of the northern maximum security
prison.
Labor Member for Lyons Jen
Butler said the Premier should have used his visit to announce that government
will not proceed with its plans to build a prison at Westbury.
“Instead he’s paid lip
service to consultation, telling media in a hastily convened press conference
that Westbury remains the government’s preferred site.
“That’s in stark contrast to
his comments just weeks ago that it’s not ‘ – words that gave this community some hope the government will see
sense and walk away from Westbury as a site for the prison.”
Ms Butler said the
government has been progressing the project by stealth, quietly undertaking
geotechnical work on the proposed prison site.
“At the same time, they use in an attempt to prove there’s support for a prison
at Westbury.
“Make no mistake, this
community is ready for a fight, and will take the government on in every forum
available to put an end to their ill-conceived plan.
“It’s time for Peter Gutwein
to instruct Elise Archer to cut her losses, release the shortlist of potential
sites, and start over with a genuine consultation process with the Tasmanian
community.”
Jen Butler MP – Labor Member for Lyons
