Former failed Housing and Child Safety Minister Jacquie Petrusma has convincingly stamped her mark as the Hodgman Liberal Government's Minister for Nothing after her appalling performance before Parliamentary Estimates Budget hearings this week.
Mrs Petrusma could point to little more than acting as an official events/partygoer as her official duties, despite holding important portfolios for Disability Services, Community Development, Aboriginal Affairs, Women and Sport and Recreation during her appearance before the hearings yesterday.
Shadow Minister for Disabilities Jo Siejka said with Mrs Petrusma set to appear again this afternoon to answer questions on her portfolio responsibilities, it was hoped she could add something of substance, rather than merely report that she attends events and meets people.
"Mrs Petrusma is responsible for tens of thousands of Tasmanians living with disabilities but yesterday she proved herself the master of deflecting questions on important issues by declining to provide answers," Ms Siejka said.
"Yesterday she again failed to provide meaningful answers about how disability groups will be funded into the future.
"She could not say how many Tasmanians had been trained or qualified as workers in the disability sector on her watch. She could add nothing of value across her portfolio areas.
"Mrs Petrusma's abject failures in the previous four-year term of Liberal Government as the Minister for Child Safety and Housing are well documented.
"She now appears to have found her calling however as the Minister for Not Doing Very Much At All."
Jo Siejka MLC
Shadow Minister for Disabilities
