Trust can quickly fade

IT should have been a week when the State Government rode a wave of success. Premier Peter Gutwein recorded the highest satisfaction rating in living memory in a Newspoll, his handling of the coronavirus crisis was backed to the hilt in the same survey, and talk of an early election was in the air.

So why is it that by the end of the week all the talk has been about something else entirely? It centres on how a prominent political donor thanked a public servant for helping a developer who subsequently gained exemptions from quarantine restrictions for interstate workers so a hotel could be finished on time.

The matter came to light when Tasmanian Hospitality chief Steve Old took the opportunity in a speech at the opening of the Crowne Plaza hotel to thank Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment secretary Tim Baker for his assistance in getting the workers’ exemptions.

When asked about the speech, Mr Gutwein was quick to dismiss any talk of a scandal.

The Premier said the ultimate decision to grant an exemption rested with the State Controller, Police Commissioner Darren Hine.

The Mercury is not suggesting anyone did anything wrong. All actions may well have been legitimate and above board. But we simply don’t know. The government and its advisers have been particularly touchy about the issue when challenged

IF THE GOVERNMENT IS SERIOUS ABOUT HONOURING THAT TRUST IT MUST BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW WORKERS WERE GIVEN EXEMPTIONS

on it, almost taking offence that our reporters dared to ask questions.

But these are the facts: The THA was a major donor to the Liberal Party at the last state election, so too was the Kallis Group.

Mr Baker, while now in a key public service post, is former Premier Will Hodgman’s chief of staff.

All roads lead back to the Liberal Party links. This doesn’t pass the pub test.

Tasmanian politics has long been accused of being a bit of a boys’ club. Whichever party has been in power, the suggestion is that if you want to get something done, you use your political networks to connect the right people — there’s a nod and a wink and, hey presto, you get a result. That is why so many are cynical about politicians.

The coronavirus crisis has provided a rare and welcome change to that view.

Mr Gutwein has shown tremendous leadership and asked Tasmanians to trust him. That, they have done. The Newspoll held early in the week revealed that 93 per cent supported his handling of the crisis.

But with that trust comes great responsibility. Tasmanians have sacrificed much to stop the spread of COVID-19. Many have missed farewelling loved ones at funerals, put off weddings and gone for long periods without seeing their friends and relatives interstate.

If the government is serious about honouring that trust, it must be totally transparent about how workers were given exemptions while others were not. It must show that no one acted inappropriately and no one bent the rules.

Without such transparency, the public’s trust in Mr Gutwein and the government will quickly erode.

Responsibility for all editorial comment is taken by the Editor, Jenna Cairney, Level 1, 2 Salamanca Square, Hobart, TAS, 7000