Questions need answers
SUE HICKEY AS SPEAKER
DID Sue Hickey know the Liberal Party intended to nominate Rene Hidding as Speaker? A simple “yes” or “no” will suffice. Hickey chose the path of egregious opportunism, seeking to keep attention focused on her and to continue to make a name for herself. The glass ceiling is broken by earning respect and doing honourable deeds, and having equal or better qualifications, doing an equal or better job, versus surreptitious machinations. To liken herself to former British PM Margaret Thatcher is a real stretch. guson’s statement that he would positively consider the input of non-Liberal politicians when dealing with the difficult challenges of his portfolio. More power to that sentiment, said Hickey. I agree.
On the pokies, Hickey made the obvious statement that there is some economic benefit in their favour. What Hickey has not yet commented on are the social and economic downsides.
Claims she acted with treachery and self-interest are not easy to accept, given the conduct of the recent election. The new Speaker offers a chance for this Parliament to be a successful one.
First past the post
LETTERS about the Sue Hickey saga fail to recognise the wastefulness of the HareClark system and the election result’s lack of reflection of the wishes of the voters.
Primary votes (first past the post) would have given Liberal, Labor and Greens 13, nine and three; Hare-Clark gave us 13, ten and two, effectively no real difference. But the true reflection the voters’ wishes, based on primary votes of the 25 elected candidates together with those of the three who lost on preferences, gave Liberals 144,000, Labor 81,000 and Greens 20,000 – a true reflection of the electorate’s wishes would have been 15, eight and two.
Tasmania’s population is comparable with many mainland councils. Why couldn’t we survive with a unicameral and nonpartisan government? An executive comprising the five top primary vote-getters from each division plus 20 members, four per division, elected from a first-pastthe-post vote. The result would be the A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. abolition of a redundant Upper House and all its costly trappings, maximum utilisation of talent, reduction in workload for individual MPs, and all MPs free to vote in accord with their electorates’ wishes rather than blindly following the party line – all restrictions on the efficient operation of our state government eliminated and the cost to the taxpayer drastically reduced.
Why not Will and Rebecca?
A new low
ALL those true blue Liberal voters out there should really take time for an internal reality check, instead of banging on about supposed treachery and disloyalty.
Does anyone really believe the former lord mayor of Hobart would give up her high-profile position, and sell a successful promotions company, just to take up a position as a mere parliamentary secretary? Sue Hickey has an MBA, and comfortably won the crucial former Matthew Groom seat of Denison to ensure the Liberals achieved a majority in Parliament.
From her comments, she was obviously given firm assurances of receiving a cabinet position, but this promise was not delivered in the premier’s new team. We do not know who influenced the final choice of cabinet positions, but ready assumptions can be made.
We expect politicians may fail to deliver some election promises and that they will keep hiding unfavourable reports from us, but to appear disloyal to one of your own new MPs must be hitting a new low, even for Tasmanian politics.
North more grown up
THE Cataract Gorge Scenic Chairlift was established in 1972 without opposition and is a popular tourist attraction for Launceston. Obviously Launcestonians are more mature than the anti-cable car minority of Hobart.
Clear waterways
IT’S obvious from the devastating floods of the 1960s to the recent one that we haven’t learnt much about prevention. Controlled burns are used to help safeguard against bush fire. What we need in future is a plan to clear drains/waterways and their surrounds of debris, against flooding and damage to infrastructures, the main cause of the problem.
Get with the times
NOW that fuel boards will display full prices at the servos it may be an opportune time to dispense with ridiculously outdated percentage.
Fed up
I AM fed up with politicians deciding what is in the best interests of the people of Tasmania and usually without any discussion. It seems very prescriptive unless it is shorthand for quick-fix decisions. It will be interesting to see how Sue Hickey earns her stripes as a politician.