Minister double-up could be trouble

A TASMANIAN political scientist has questioned the timing of having one minister with both the key health and education portfolios during Covid as schools prepare to return.

Professor Richard Herr (pictured) said all ministers had been under stress because of the length of the Covid pandemic and “each is entitled to a break from time to time”. “However, as we have seen, things change quickly with Omicron. Victoria has just declared a code brown because its health services are stretched,” he said.

“There is a real difficulty with one minister having to make key decisions where conflicting interests are in play.

“For example, what happens if teachers argue a case for delaying the return to the classroom that counters the advice of the health department?

“Jeremy Rockliff has considerable capacity, as he has shown by taking on the poisoned chalice of health … but he may have to balance just such conflicting interests.”

Professor Herr said on the one hand Mr Rockliff was the advocate in cabinet as Health Minister and yet currently he was also the acting Education Minister.

“If both ministers were in cabinet at this critical time both with Omicron and the return to school, each would have equal standing,” he said.

“There would be two separate and independent advocates for health and education.

“Of course, we hope there isn’t any real conflict between community health and a safe, uninterrupted return to school.

“The timing of the minister’s leave is an issue precisely because of the rapid and unpredicted effects of Omicron.”