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Greens slam Tasmanian ALP, Liberals

Tasmania's Greens hope to steal votes from disaffected major party supporters at the March 15 state election.

Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim

Tasmania's Greens have slammed the Labor party for the progressive vote at the state election. (AAP)

Tasmania's Greens have described the Labor party they shared power with for four years as a "shambles" in a pitch for the progressive vote at the state election.

Greens leader Nick McKim had already declared his party could be the official opposition in the island state after the March 15 poll with the ALP languishing in the polls.

He has used the Greens' official campaign launch to slam Labor and to warn Liberal voters of a "Hodgman/Abetz" government.

Mr McKim attacked Labor over rogue backbencher Brenton Best, who has called for Premier Lara Giddings to step down over the party's power-sharing arrangement with the Greens.

Mr Best renewed his attack on Ms Giddings on social media this week, referring to the premier as "La La".

"I say to progressive Labor voters your party is at war with itself," Mr McKim told Greens supporters in Hobart.

He accused opposition leader Will Hodgman of subservience to Tasmanian Liberal senator and federal employment minister Eric Abetz.

"I'd say this to some Liberal voters, particularly conservative people who hold traditional conservative values, that a vote for Will Hodgman is a vote for Eric Abetz and Tony Abbott," Mr McKim said.

The Greens have released a brochure declaring they stand for "real liberal values" more akin to Malcolm Turnbull's than Mr Abbott's.

It claims Tasmania's Liberals are controlled by "right-wing hardliners" such as Senator Abetz.

"Their policies are a mix of hard right-wing morality and old-fashioned corporate welfare," it says.

Mr McKim promised to create 10,000 jobs over the next decade by better marketing of Tasmanian products and produce.

He said the Greens would push a light rail proposal linking the city to the state's number one tourist attraction, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

The Greens would also make Tasmania Australia's healthiest state by 2030 with a $13 million preventative health policy.

Mr McKim was introduced by the party's former federal leader Bob Brown.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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