Critics attack cabinet moves
THE state government has lost a fourth minister in six months after the shock resignation of Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Jacquie Petrusma.
The long-serving member for Franklin told Premier Jeremy Rockliff of her intention to quit over the weekend, citing personal and family reasons.
Her departure leaves the parliament potentially deadlocked at 12-12 for several days until a new member is sworn in several days after sittings resume following the winter recess.
Mr Rockliff announced Ms Petrusma’s departure from the parliament at a suddenly convened media conference in Hobart on Monday.
He praised her work on family and sexual violence and said her contribution would be missed.
“Jacquie has been an absolute trouper for our team over the course of the last 12 years, a very effective shadow minister in opposition, a very effective and reforming minister in our government since 2014.
“She has delivered with compassion, she has delivered with empathy, she has a great deal of commitment for her electorate of Franklin that she has represented so effectively since her first election in 2010.”
A recount of Ms Petrusma’s votes from the 2021 state election will be held in Franklin.
Should they nominate, it will most likely be decided between former Huon mayor Bec Enders, Glenorchy newsagent Dean Young or Clarence councillor James Walker.
In the fourth cabinet reshuffle this year, Mr Rockliff announced member for Braddon Felix Ellis would join cabinet as Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister, Resources Minister and Skills, Training and Workforce Growth Minister.
“I got into politics to be able to serve my community and this is an opportunity to make a difference on the issues that matter to them,” Mr Ellis said.
Jo Palmer, will take on the portfolio of Prevention of Family Violence and Roger Jaensch will resume the Parks portfolio. Lara Alexander will become Government Whip.
Ms Petrusma said he was proud to have served.
“This has been a challenging decision, but it is the right one for my family, who have provided me with incredible love and support since I was first elected in March 2010,” she said.
“As a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a wife, I need to now more than ever, spend more time with my family and provide extra support.
“I step down knowing that my portfolios and the electorate of Franklin will continue to be well served by a strong, united Liberal government that I have been immensely proud to be part of.”
Labor leader Rebecca White said the government was in chaos.
“Well, the wheels have fallen off the government completely. We’ve got a weak government led by a weak leader and unfortunately Tasmanians are the ones who suffer,” she said.
“We’ve had four resignations from cabinet including a premier this year alone.
“This is a government that is nothing like the government Tasmanians elected last year.”
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor wished Ms Petrusma all the best.
“I’ve always found Jacqui to be incredibly hard working, decent and compassionate,’’ she said.
“And I’m certain that she was on the verge of making some very significant changes and necessary changes in the parks portfolio.”
But she was less impressed by Mr Ellis’s appointment.
“We now have evidence that the talent pool in government is about two millimetres thick. We’ve got now a junior MP who has been given very significant portfolios,” she said.
“It’s a terrible appointment.”
Alittle over 15 months since the 2021 state election, Tasmanians will have seen a Premier and four ministers quit, five cabinet reshuffles, four recounts and a prorogued and disrupted parliament. A week or so after parliament resumes from the winter break, four of the 25 members in the House of Assembly will be newcomers. The word “stable” in the government catchcry “strong, stable majority” government is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
In the instances of Peter Gutwein in April and Jacquie Petrusma on Monday, the departures were attributed to the need to spend more time with family. The pattern in both cases is the same: a hardworking member of the government has taken some leave and realised that life is short and the demands of high office are high.
Aside from more work for the busy folk at the Tasmanian Electoral Commission, the churn is also placing a big strain on the reserve benches.
Unsuccessful candidates from the election find themselves shanghaied into parliament and the talent pool for the ministry is being depleted at breakneck speed.
Felix Ellis wasn’t even elected in 2021. The departure of Adam Brooks saw him elevated on a recount — the second time he entered parliament in this fashion. Now the countback king has done a Steven Bradbury into the cabinet. Premier Jeremy Rockliff cited the 32-year-old former plumber’s services as a surf lifesaver and with the rural fire service as qualifications for the $850m-a year portfolio in Police, Fire and Emergency Management.
When he marks two years of relatively light duties in parliament next month, the pugnacious member for Braddon will also be Resources Minister and Skills, Training and Workforce Growth Minister.
While Tasmanians will wish Mr Ellis every success in these new portfolios, Monday’s events again underline the tremendous demands made of a small number of people in whose hands our fragile fortunes rest.
It brings the focus back to the longrunning debate over the size of our parliament Mr Rockliff has promised to return the House of Assembly of 35 members, which will deliver the marginal improvement of perhaps one more minister. Hopefully, that will ease the remarkable turnover.
Our government has much to grapple with over the coming 12 months, not least of which will be the ongoing revelations of the Commission of Inquiry. There is the ongoing need for a serious look at oversight and integrity measures across government; not to mention a continuing focus on the pandemic plus the growing unrest in the public sector workforce as pay talks loom. With luck, Ms Petrusma’s departure is the last in the series.