Election may pull plug on Libs’ bid
THE chances of the State Government achieving its proposed TasWater takeover are fading fast, with the Bill set to fail if just three independents vote against it in the Legislative Council.
Eight of the 14 voting MLCs would need to support the Government’s divisive legislation to get it through the Upper House.
But with Labor now holding four seats in the Legislative Council after the election of Jo Siejka in Pembroke at the weekend, it is unlikely the Bill will pass.
If it fails it will become the third major piece of Government legislation to be blocked in the Legislative Council in recent months, along with the AntiDiscrimination Amendment Bill and the Forestry Bill.
University of Tasmania political scientist Richard Eccleston said the Government would face a difficult time negotiating the TasWater Bill through the Upper House.
Dr Eccleston said he did not believe the Hodgman Government had benefited much from the takeover plan.
“One thing that we can draw from the Pembroke election is that the ownership and the takeover of TasWater, I don’t think is a really significant issue in the minds of voters,” Dr Eccleston said.
“I think the biggest concern is that voters don’t like it when state and local governments are in conflict. What remains to be seen is whether [TasWater] becomes a significant political issue in the upcoming state election campaign.”
The Liberal Party staked the candidacy of James Walker on its proposed TasWater reform, delaying the Bill’s consideration until after the by-election and calling the legislation a “fundamental issue” of the campaign.
The Bill is expected to be considered before the end of this year.
When asked yesterday if the by-election was a litmus test on the TasWater Bill, Treasurer Peter Gutwein responded that the “face of TasWater”, Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman, came third in the poll.
“I think that says it all,” Mr Gutwein said.
He conceded the Government was likely to struggle to pass the legislation.
“It’s been bad enough with three Labor members in the Upper House blocking legislation, now with four it will be nigh on impossible to get legislation through,” Mr Gutwein said.
Labor leader Rebecca White said the Pembroke result indicated people did not support the Government’s TasWater takeover.
She said the Liberal Party should reconsider the reform.
“Now they’ve had a referendum that’s shown that people don’t support the TasWater takeover and that legislation is going to have a much harder passage through the Upper House,” Ms White said.
Political experts said the high number of Labor seats in the traditionally independent Legislative Council would have ramifications following the state election.
Political analyst Kevin Bonham said the recent pattern of contentious Bills being knocked back by the council was likely to continue under a re-elected Hodgman government.
“If the Government does manage to win a second term from here, it’s facing a miserable time in the Legislative Council getting Bills through, it’s going to be very, very difficult for it to govern,” Dr Bonham said.
Alternatively, Dr Bonham said if Labor managed to form government, its numbers in the Legislative Council would make it easier for the party to pass legislation.
Dr Eccleston said the Pembroke result would strengthen Labor’s bargaining position.
He said whichever party formed government after the state election, it would need to adopt a more conciliatory and negotiated stance with the council.
“One of the big picture implications from the Pembroke election is that the Liberals do probably need to be careful about campaigning on the fact that they’re the only party that can form a majority,” Dr Eccleston said.
“I’m not saying I think the Labor Party can, but it’s one thing to form a majority in the Lower House … but without the support of the Legislative Council, it’s very difficult to get legislation through.”