The year like no other

IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST TUMULTUOUS YEARS IN FEDERAL POLITICS FOR TASMANIAN POLITICIANS WHO WERE FRONT AND CENTRE AS TWO OF THE BIGGEST POLITICAL ISSUES OF 2017 — THE CITIZENSHIP SAGA AND THE SAMESEX MARRIAGE CAMPAIGN — PLAYED OUT. FEDERAL POLITICAL ED

IF very few people outside Tasmania knew Stephen Parry was Senate President before the year began, that certainly changed as 2017 draws to a close.

In his role as Senate President, Stephen Parry this year referred a number of senators to the High Court because of the possibility that they were dual citizens. In November, Mr Parry revealed that he was a dual citizen himself and resigned.

Similarly, independent Jacqui Lambie discovered during research for her upcoming biography that she was also a dual citizen and resigned. Both had assured the Mer

cury in July, when we asked, that they were not dual citizens.

Braddon MP Justine Keay is a focus of Turnbull Government attacks over her now renounced British citizenship and looks destined for the High Court at some stage.

Ms Keay was a dual British/ Australian citizen on the relevant date June 9, 2016 and therefore “incapable of being elected” in High Court parlance. However, she argues that she took all reasonable steps, which was a 1992 threshold used by the High Court.

The question is whether the “black letter” High Court of recent times will see it the same way.

And was it reasonable for Ms Keay to leave it for 10 months after preselection to begin the renunciation process?

Tasmanians played a key role in one of the nation’s biggest ever social changes — the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

Denison independent Andrew Wilkie and longtime marriage equality campaigner Rodney Croome headed to the High Court seeking to halt the proposed postal survey fearing the debate would be nasty and personal.

However, when the $100 million survey was given the go ahead Mr Croome was one of the key voices during a testing three-month campaign.

“We are disappointed that this unnecessary, expensive and divisive postal vote has been upheld by the High Court,” Mr Croome said.

“But it’s time to rally and to dedicate all of the resources at our disposal to ensure the majority of Australians vote yes for marriage equality.”

Tasmania also took centrestage when former prime minister Tony Abbott was allegedly headbutted in Hobart by a person wearing a “yes” badge.

“This attack on Tony Abbott, like any violence on the basis of political belief, is beneath contempt and has no place in Australian public debate,” Mr Croome said.

Liberal Senator Eric Abetz was one of the key “no” voices nationally while Labor Senator Helen Polley who was also opposed was urged by ALP MPs to say she supported same-sex marriage.

Ultimately 13 of Tasmania’s remaining 15 Federal MPs and senators voted in favour of the legislation when it passed — reflecting the 63.6 per cent yes vote from the 302,408 Tasmanians who participated in the survey.

At a political level, Tasmania’s fortunes are hostage to the 2016 election result in which the ‘Three Amigos’ were bid adios and the state’s only minister under Mr Turnbull Richard Colbeck was dropped to an unwinnable position. After the election the Liberals held just four of the 17 House of Representatives and Senate seats.

Perhaps not surprisingly the Federal Budget contained little new expenditure for the state despite widespread anticipation that Treasurer Scott Morrison would unveil an infrastructure Budget.

Much of the expenditure was leftovers from the 2013 Coalition Economic Growth Plan for Tasmania including the $38 million Hobart Airport runway extension, $400 million Midland Highway funding and Antarctic funding.

However, the state did receive a $730 million fillip when the Federal Government handed over a lump sum to cover the cost of running the Mersey Community Hospital for 10 years. The gesture adds about $80 million a year to the Tasmanian Budget.

Tasmania’s hopes for Commonwealth infrastructure investment such as a Hobart City Deal and the $400 million University of Tasmania STEM project, with pork barrelling for the 2019 election in mind, are probably not helped by the fact that Denison is held by independent Mr Wilkie and Franklin by Julie Collins and Lyons by Brian Mitchell.

Assistant Minister for Cities Angus Taylor said: “Discussions around a possible Hobart City Deal are progressing positively, with all levels of government focusing on projects to build an economically sustainable and liveable Greater Hob- art.” Infrastructure Australia has STEM, the Bridgewater Bridge, Burnie to Hobart freight corridor, Tasmanian irrigation schemes and a Tasmanian sewerage infrastructure upgrade on its latest list.

Recently a $20 million feasibility study into a second interconnector was announced to help realise Hydro Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation concept.

An extension to the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme for outbound exports touted to be worth $ 203 million over four years has so far paid less than half of what was anticipated.

Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson did much of the groundwork for the royal commission into the banks.

“It’s time to rally ... to ensure the majority of Australians vote yes for marriage equality.” RODNEY CROOME