The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Minister responsible for Crown Lands, David Llewellyn, to step-in and come to the aid of two small businesses being evicted from the Salamanca Arts Centre (SAC) by insisting that the SAC board review, with a view to reversing, its decision to evict the businesses.

Greens Member for Denison, Cassy O’Connor MP, said the two evictees, Mrs Wendy Wilkinson and Mrs Rae Martin, are model tenants and successful business operators with a combined total of sixty years’ association with the SAC, and the manner of their eviction appears to be unfair and discriminatory, as well as denying them procedural fairness.

“David Llewellyn has the power to make representations to the board of the SAC, but given that the SAC board also includes Labor election candidate Madeleine Ogilvie and Liberal candidate Elise Archer, it is the responsibility of all parties to try their hardest on behalf of Mrs Martin and Mrs Wilkinson,” said Ms O’Connor.

“Mrs Martin and Mrs Wilkinson have been model tenants at the SAC, with a combined total of sixty years’ association with the Centre, and they should never have been evicted, let alone via a short and cursory letter that lacks any detailed explanation or any option to meet with the board for a face-to-face explanation.”

“The Greens have raised this issue in Parliament today, and we will continue to push the SAC for a reversal of this unfair decision, a detailed explanation as to why it was taken in the first place, and for the reason why the Board and Chairman have subsequently refused to meet with their soon-to-be-evicted tenants,” said Ms O’Connor.