Someone's misinformed on Tas freight

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown is incredulous at today's news from Tasmanian minister David O'Byrne that federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has advised him "it will not be adjusting the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme to include north-bound international exports from Tasmania".

"Less than 24 hours ago I had very earnest discussions with Wayne Swan on this very issue and he was very considerate of it. I explained that, for just $21 million per annum, this fair proposal will help keep manufacturing jobs in Tasmania which has a 7% unemployment rate," Senator Brown said.

"If the Treasurer has in fact stymied the proposal, it is a major breach of faith as we head into the final eight weeks of pre-budget talks," Senator Brown said.