Likely Greens member for Clark Vica Bayley says he’s ready to serve

The Greens’ likely new member in the House of Assembly says he is eager to join the parliament following Thursday’s departure of Cassy O’Connor. His ambition >>

Greens candidate Vica Bayley and Greens acting leader Rosalie Woodruff on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Friday, July 14, 2023.

The Greens’ likely new member for Clark says he is keen to take his place in the House of Assembly should the recount go his way.

Long time environmental campaigner Vica Bayley is almost certain to take the place of former leader Cassy O’Connor, who quit parliament on Thursday.

Mr Bayley paid tribute to Ms O’Connor for her “massive Green heart”.

“I can only hope to emulate her the kind of compassion and advocacy that she’s brought to this place over the last 15 years,” he said.

Mr Bayley said he was humbled to be in a position to take a seat in the parliament.

“Many people in Tasmania know me already and they know me as an advocate for the environment and advocate for Aboriginal issues, an advocate for the mountain,” he said.

“I think that being a member of parliament presents me as an individual is an opportunity to be more than just an advocate for those things.

“I’m a passionate Tasmanian I have born and grew up here all my life, I care about social justice, health, housing, education, all these other things that are important to Tasmania.
And it’s not just the environment, the environment is very important.

“I will be a vibrant champion of that within the parliament but what I’m looking forward to is the opportunity to express my position and the Greens position around a myriad of other issues.

Greens candidate Vica Bayley and Greens acting leader Rosalie Woodruff on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Friday, July 14, 2023.

“The reality is we’re at a low point at the moment, we’re at the low point in terms of transparency, in terms of accountability, in terms of actually taking forward an agenda in this state that benefits Tasmanians, and I think the parliament can do a whole lot better than it has been doing over the last decade or so.”

Acting Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said Mr Bayley would make a fine MP and she was keen to get on with the job.

“We’re looking forward to the rest of this term, however long that may be, to standing up for the issues that the people who voted for us have put us here to do,” she said.

“That’s protecting our wild places and looking after standing up for people who are suffering the injustices of the Liberals’ health and housing systems, and doing everything that we can to take real action on the climate crisis and defending our democracy.”

Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner Andrew Hawkey said the recount process was underway.

“A public notice will appear in The Mercury newspaper on Saturday 15 July 2023 inviting all Clark candidates who were not elected at the 2021 State election to nominate to contest the recount.

“The Electoral Commissioner will also write to those candidates.

“Nominations must be received by 12 noon on Monday 31 July 2023. The recount will commence shortly after this time.”

Originally published as Likely Greens member for Clark Vica Bayley says he’s ready to serve