TAS: Tasmanian anger over Sydney money grab

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2001
TAS: Tasmanian anger over Sydney money grab

By Don Woolford

HOBART, Feb 2 AAP - Some of Sydney's business luminaries have ventured into one of
the most dangerous places in politics -- between a poor state and federal money.

They were denounced for it today by the Tasmanian government.

"Arrogant, greedy and un-Australian," Steven Kons, parliamentary secretary to Premier
Jim Bacon, said upon learning that the Committee for Sydney was trying to grab federal
funds allocated to Tasmania.

The committee, whose membership includes Macquarie Bank executive director and former
Tasmanian federal MP Warwick Smith, commissioned a report which said Sydney didn't receive
its fair share of federal funds.

In a statement to the Australian Financial Review, the committee said that the "begging"

states and territories -- Tasmania, the ACT and Northern Territory -- were bleeding Australia's
biggest and wealthiest city.

Mr Kons said the committee's push would damage Sydney's reputation in the rest of Australia.

"I am staggered that big business in the wealthiest city in Australia would embark
on a grubby little exercise to rip money out of regional Australia for pet projects in
their home city," he said.

Mr Kons denied Sydney was missing out on federal funds.

He said that last month the federal government announced it would spend $1.4 billion
-- which represents 66 per cent of Tasmania's budget -- on a western Sydney highway.

It was time the rest of Australia recognised Tasmania's contribution, Mr Kons said.

The state has produced two successive surplus budgets, its employment growth was above
the national average, it had Australia's second highest per capita export sales behind
Western Australia, its wild beauty had attracted a 25 per cent growth in overseas tourism
and it was on the verge of a new industrial era, he said.

"The message for the Committee for Sydney is simple," Mr Kons said.

"As Australians, Tasmanians are proud of your city. We invite you to be proud of Australia's
greatest asset -- Tasmania."

AAP dw/mjm/sb

KEYWORD: MONEY TAS

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