Can Gutwein’s handling of essential worker criticism pass the pub test?

The Tasmanian Government, which has done a very good job handling the coronavirus crisis, just wants the discussion about essential workers to go away, writes Mercury editor Jenna Cairney

THERE are few tests as important as the pub test.

The Tasmanian Government, which has done a very good job handling the coronavirus crisis, just wants the discussion about essential workers to go away.

Yet each time we think the story is out of puff, someone stokes the firebox.

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association is a Liberal Party donor. In July, its CEO Steve Old thanked senior public servant and former chief of staff to Will Hodgman, Tim Baker, for helping get workers on the Crowne Plaza Hotel project exemptions to finish the project on time.

Rodger Powell, third from left partially obscured, shown at the opening of the Crowne Hotel in Hobart with Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein

Most assumed the exemptions were granted for construction workers and, given the responsibility of approving exemptions is supposed to lie with the State Controller Darren Hine, there were concerns about political and departmental interference.

Then this week a Right to Information document revealed correspondence between Mr Old and Mr Baker. Mr Old was trying to get an exemption for Tourism and Hospitality Services Australasia director Rodger Powell,

“Hey mate. Any help you can offer with this?” Mr Old wrote, adding a smiling face emoji.

The next day, Mr Baker replied: “Yep, I will look in to it”.

Mr Powell said he had important documents to sign and had to inspect the hotel before completion – and, of course, he attended the official opening party.

When the story first emerged, Premier Peter Gutwein dismissed it as a witch hunt. When questioned this time round, he suggested media was casting doubt on the integrity of the state controller’s decision making. His message is: Nothing to see here, we’ve more important things to worry about.

Two weeks in hotel quarantine (now on your own dime) for any non-Tasmanian wanting to enter the state without esential worker status. Picture Chris Kidd

However, in the court of public opinion, the whole thing stinks to high heaven.

No one is suggesting the State Controller did anything wrong.

Tasmanians have loyally followed our state leader, sacrificing personal freedoms in the interests of defeating this deadly virus.

We believe that we’re all in it together and that if we all do our bit, we will emerge more quickly from the crisis.

But Tasmanians are not fools.

And nor do they find it in any way acceptable to see double standards or special privileges afforded to an elite group of people.

Mr Baker denies he interfered with the State Controller’s decision to grant Mr Powell access to the state but the very fact that, in writing, he commits to “looking into the application” is bad enough. Why did he indicate he would act if he couldn’t or wouldn’t?

There are Tasmanians who have missed family funerals or been unable to be by the side of loved ones during their hour of need. They had no one to turn to that would “look into” their application for them.

Jorja Threlfall who has business White Rabbit Tattoo Removal is happy that she can now have essential workers to come in from interstate and fix their equipment, just one day after the Mercury reported the worker has been denied permission three times . Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

And as we reported this week, a small business unable to operate without an interstate technician to fix their equipment was left out in the cold. They didn’t have chums in high places to look into their plight.

Tasmanians are desperate for impeccable leadership and sincerely they want Mr Gutwein to succeed in guiding us through these strange and scary times.

But he does himself a disservice by refusing to address this issue lies with his government – not those merely asking questions in the public interest.

By not acknowledging that the conversations between Mr Old and Mr Baker were inappropriate he fails to protect the State Controller. He misreads the room and he plays a risky game of prioritising power over public perception.