YOU GIVE LIBS A BAD NAME

SHOT THROUGH TO QUEENSLAND, DOGGED BY CLAIMS

PREMIER Peter Gutwein says Liberal candidate Adam Brooks will not take his seat in parliament — believed to be the first time in Tasmanian history a politician has resigned twice.

THE Liberals’ decision to stick by embattled candidate Adam Brooks until the moment he was elected was a cynical ploy which had tainted the election result, opposition parties say.

Mr Brooks resigned as MP for Braddon shortly after being declared elected.

Premier Peter Gutwein has confirmed Mr Brooks would not take a seat in parliament due to concerns about his mental health and after receiving a firearms charge in Queensland.

Mr Gutwein said he was told by Mr Brooks he was visited by Queensland Police on Thursday and charged with a firearms offence and another offence relating to a document.

“He maintains his innocence in terms of these new charges, he’s indicating that he’s seeking legal advice and intends to defend himself,” Mr Gutwein said.

Mr Gutwein said he spoke with Mr Brooks at 7pm on Thursday when Mr Brooks informed him of the charges and that he was interstate seeking treatment. He said Mr Brooks had left Tasmania on Wednesday and it was unclear when he would return.

“He is very unwell,” Mr Gutwein said.

“He is seeking treatment, but he’s not in a good space at the moment.”

Mr Brooks is also facing a firearms-related charge in Tasmania and accusations of using false identities on dating sites.

His election helped the Liberals achieve a majority in the house of Assembly. Liberal Felix Ellis is likely to be elected on a countback.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said Premier Gutwein’s defence of Mr Brooks until the last possible moment tainted the entire election result.

“You could certainly form the view that Mr Gutwein has scraped in with a narrow majority on the back of Mr Brooks’ votes,” she said.

“And you could form the view that it was very convenient for the Liberals to ignore Mr Brooks’ transgressions and his character failings throughout the campaign until the day that the polls are declared and the final votes have been counted.

“It stinks, it’s dodgy and Mr Gutwein owes the people of Tasmania a proper explanation rather than once again trying to hide behind a mental health issue.”

Ms O’Connor said the decision to preselect and stand by Mr Brooks treated the voters of Braddon “with contempt”.

“Adam Brooks’ resignation on the day that he would have effectively been elected raises a number of questions.

“When did Mr Gutwein know that there were police charges pending. Why did it take until the day that Mr Brooks was due to be elected for his resignation to be announced?”

Labor’s David O’Byrne said the outcome of Mr Brook’s candidacy was never in doubt.

“The people of Tasmania should be disappointed not in what’s occurred — which is an absolute farce and a shambles. This is completely predictable,” he said.

“We knew that this guy had form. He lied to the previous premier, he lied to the parliament.

“While we absolutely wish him well dealing with his mental health issues, this is a person who has form and Peter

Shame, shame, shame Failed Clark candidate Sue Hickey

It was deceptive Failed Braddon candidate Craig Garland

A turn up for the books Former Liberal premier Tony Rundle

It stinks, it’s dodgy Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor

Gutwein needs to answer some serious questions about standing next to Adam Brooks.”

Mr O’Byrne said he hoped Mr Brooks’ candidacy was not an attempt by the Liberals to simply harvest votes in the seat of Braddon.

“If that’s the case, no wonder people are cynical about politicians and politics. It just treats the people of Tasmania with contempt and it is calculating.

“This is a Premier who has form about making these sorts of tactical decisions for his own benefit.”

Former Liberal Speaker Sue Hickey wants to know how much Premier Gutwein knew about impending charges against Adam Brooks.

An absolute farce Labor’s David O’Byrne

Ms Hickey said she was pleased Mr Brooks would not take his seat in parliament and said she had taken calls from angry voters who felt they had been misled.

“The Liberal Party have treated the people of Tasmania with total contempt in their desperate attempt to wrangle control,” she said.

“I have three words for the Premier — shame, shame, shame! This is why majority government is such a threat to good governance.

“We will now have another four years of this corruption of process.”

Ms Hickey said the fact Mr Brooks had been allowed to stand just to get votes was disgraceful.

Independent Braddon candidate Craig Garland said it was “deceptive” of Adam Brooks to stand when he knew charges were hanging over his head.

Mr Garland, a prominent fisherman, was unable to attend the declaration of the poll yesterday because he was unwell.

“What can you say really – he shouldn’t have been there in the first place,” Mr Garland said.

“It was deceptive of him and the Premier who knew about it all and yet he went with the risk.”

Mr Garland received 4236 first preference votes and said he hadn’t decided whether to contest the recount of Mr Brooks’ votes.

Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz has supported Mr Brooks’ decision to not take his seat in parliament.

“He has done the right thing,” Senator Abetz said.

“This will allow the reentry of Felix Ellis into parliament and he has done a fine job.”

Mr Brooks was one of 67 Liberal Party members who met on Saturday to determine Senate pre-selection.

It is believed Mr Brooks supported Senator Abetz’s dumping down the Senate ticket to the potentially unwinnable third spot.

It is not certain whether Mr Brooks will remain as Liberal Party treasurer.

Mr Brooks has been bailed to appear in court on the Queensland charges.

Former Tasmanian Liberal premier Tony Rundle is surprised at Mr Brooks’ departure, which he believes may be unique in parliamentary history.

“It’s a turn up for the books and could be the first time this has happened in Tasmanian parliamentary history with someone not taking their seat,” Mr Rundle said.

“He’s done the right thing by the party because if he had stayed it would have sucked the oxygen out of what was a very significant win.

“I hope he can sort out his health issues and his life can return to some sort of normality.”

Mr Rundle was pleased at the prospect of Felix Ellis returning to parliament..