Today the Tasmanian Liberals' had a constructive discussion with the CPSU. What we found is that while the current economic circumstances are challenging, we must work through the issues together and we must not take a slash and burn approach to the public sector.

The CPSU and its members are growing increasingly frustrated at the State Government's belligerent approach and its complete failure to communicate with state servants about its harsh, unnecessary public sector cuts. Mr Gutwein said:

The Tasmanian Liberals' have been predicting the difficult circumstances that now confront the State Government. It is an indication that Labor lacks vision and is, at best, a fair-weather economic manager that it has taken them this long to acknowledge there is a problem.

The State Government simply doesn't have a clue. If they had consulted and developed a strategy when the Tasmanian Liberals' first said there was a problem, the State Government may have had a hope of managing its way through this crisis. I nstead, Premier Bartlett is in a complete panic and public servants and their families will pay the price.