Millionaire Graeme Wood's comments about Tasmanian state politics being "stupid and inbred" are disappointing, the state government says.
The Wotif founder on Friday said he did not want politicians to interfere "too much" with his Spring Ball Mill project at Triabunna on the state's east coast, and said he had "little regard" for them.
"I do not engage in political discussion in Tasmania any more," Mr Wood told The Mercury.
"I ignore politics in Tasmania because it's so inane and stupid and inbred."
Mr Wood has downgraded his Spring Bay Mill tourism venture and foreshadowed it could take up to another five years before construction on the project begins.
Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business Guy Barnett on Saturday said it is "extremely disappointing" Mr Wood plans to scale down his proposed multi million-dollar tourism development.
"I sincerely hope that Mr Wood is not trying to shift the blame for his slow progress at the site to the government," Mr Barnett said in a statement.
"It is also regrettable that Mr Wood has resorted to insults and name-calling."
Mr Wood and Kathmandu clothing founder Jan Cameron - both environmentalists - bought the land at the former Gunns woodchip mill at Triabunna in 2011.
Ms Cameron sold her share to Mr Wood in December 2014 following a dispute about how to develop a proposed tourism project.
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