Bryan Green and Lara Giddings say Rebecca White was one of the best Premiers Tasmania never had

Two former Labor leaders say outgoing head of the party, Rebecca White, had an almost impossible task at the election. Why they say the party needs to take responsibility.

2024 Tasmanian State Election Labor Leader Rebecca White. PIcture: Caroline Tan

“I know it’s been quoted before but she’s one of the best premiers we never had,” Bryan Green says of Rebecca White who replaced him as Labor leader seven years ago.

The former deputy Premier, is upset and annoyed Ms White did not win the top job at last Saturday’s election and her treatment by some in the Labor Party.

Before anointing her as his replacement in March 2017, Mr Green had been impressed with her work as the Opposition’s health spokesperson.

“She’s an extremely talented person. She’s always been able to speak to anyone and can hold her own in any conversation.

“Bec demonstrated in the last campaign that she was head and shoulders above everyone else in terms of quality and honesty.

“She won everything but the main prize and the Labor Party need to take some responsibility for that.

“The previous election was an absolute debacle in terms of disloyalty and the way people conducted themselves.

“It made her job almost impossible as leader.”

Tasmanian State Election 2024, Bryan Green and Peg Putt in the tally room, Hotel Grand Chancellor. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Green said Ms White had to work through difficult issues which were beyond her control including sexual harassment allegations against David O’Byrne who replaced her as leader for two weeks.

“She took a stance and that just goes to show how strong she is,” he said.

“None of that is easy, people might think it is but it’s extremely difficult to take a stand like that.

“She played the game fairly and she still has a lot more to offer.”

Lara Giddings, the state’s first female premier, echoed Mr Green’s sentiments saying Ms White was a “highly intelligent person who took her role very seriously”.

“Even with a young family she was able to balance her work and family commitments and still be one of the hardest working politicians,” she said.

Former Premier of Tasmania Lara Giddings. Picture: Chris Kidd

“That’s an extraordinary feat. Rebecca has been a trail blazer for women in showing the community that a woman can be a mother, and pregnant at the time she is leader.

“It’s a lost opportunity because she would have been an outstanding premier and leader for Tasmania.”

Political analyst Professor Richard Herr said Ms White left both a personal and party legacy.

“As a leader she demonstrated compassion and grace, particularly grace in very difficult circumstances and showed you don’t have to be a brass knuckle leader to be a leader,” he said.

Tasmanian State Election 2024, Labor leader Rebecca White in the tally room, Hotel Grand Chancellor. Picture: Chris Kidd

“She maintained her dignity throughout while showing compassion and concern for others.

“But at the party level after three elections support didn’t grow and it stayed at the bottom at a time you’d expect Labor to recover against a Liberal Party seeking a fourth term in office.”

Prof Herr said internal fighting and factionalism were a “significant aspect of what went wrong for the party”.

“She was confronted with impossible situations but that’s where leaders are most needed.

“She went through the David O’Byrne situation and internal problems which were not just her problems but for the leadership team and federal intervention which failed.”

Former treasurer Michael Aird said: “Although Rebecca will not be leader of the Labor Party she remains the most intelligent and capable person in the Tasmanian parliament. There have been few better.”

Originally published as Bryan Green and Lara Giddings say Rebecca White was one of the best Premiers Tasmania never had