Greens call for a bigger parliament and tougher anti-corruption laws in Question Time
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3:03pm: Improving the integrity and efficiency of Tasmania’s parliament is critical to creating a healthier democracy, the Greens say.
The party on Wednesday tabled a series of bills which would restore the House of Assembly to 35 members, to subject MPs to greater scrutiny by the Integrity Commission and to create an offence of misconduct in public office.
The the House of Assembly had 35 members from 1959 to 1998, when it was reduced to 25. One of the unintended consequences had been a big increase in the ministerial workload.
“At the moment, we’re in a diminished and shrunken parliament, where the premier of the day has to reach into the Legislative Council to find ministers, where there’s no real backbenchers because every child gets a prize — whether they’re a presiding officer or parliamentary secretary — so we don’t have a healthy functioning parliament,” Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said.
“I’m hoping it’s early enough in the term for the politics to be taken out of it and members just to do the right thing by the parliament and by democracy.”
Ms O’Connor said the Integrity Commission had been calling for an offence of misconduct in public office for years and Tasmania was he only state were it was not on the books.
One of the bills also closes a loophole preventing the Commission from scrutinising the actions of MPs during election campaigns.
In parliament yesterday, Ms O’Connor fought a series of skirmishes with the government to be referred to as “the leader of the Greens” rather than as “the member for Clark”.
After Speaker Mark Shelton turned down her request and told her not to raise the matter again, Premier Peter Gutwein at first referred to Ms O’Connor as the “self appointed leader of the Greens” but then conceded her point.
Ms O’Connor said it was a matter of respect.
“It’s pretty rude. We now have a parliament with a male Premier, a male leader of the Opposition and all the presiding officers, speaker, chair of committees and deputy Chair of committees, all held by men,” she said.
“There’s one woman in there who is the leader of a political party, that’s me.
“I don’t arc up because I’m full of myself — it’s about having respect for the position, respect for the Tasmanian Greens as a party and respect for women in leadership.
“In the last term of the parliament, I was addressed by the correct title.
“There are questions over this government’s attitude towards women and in parliament, the one woman in there who has is a leader is being diminished.”
10.41am: Greens leader Cassy O’Connor has clashed with Speaker Mark Shelton over her title during the first Question Time of the new parliament.
When it was her turn to ask a question, Mr Shelton called upon Ms O’Connor as “the member for Clark” rather than as the “leader of the Greens”.
When Ms O’Connor raised an objection, Mr Shelton said that as the Greens had only two members, they did not have official party status.
Greens leader Cassy O'Connor asks Speaker Mark Shelton why he's referring to her as the member for Clark not her party title. He responds noting that with only two members, her party has no special status. Ms O'Connor says she'll take it up with him further." #politas
— David Killick (@DavidJKillick) June 23, 2021
Ms O’Connor said as the only female leader of a party in the House of Assembly, she was entitled to some respect.
“You people are so petty,” she said. “I am the only woman in here in a leadership role and I demand respect,” she said.
Mr Gutwein said he would let Ms O’Connor and Mr Shelton sort the matter out between them, although he later referred to her as the “self-proclaimed leader of the Greens”.
During the ensuring furore, Mr Shelton told Ms O’Connor not to raise the matter in the chamber again.
Premier Peter Gutwein refers to Labor infighting during the election campaigns as an "omnishambles". But he concedes Ms O'Connor should be referred to as "the leader of the Tasmanian Greens". #politas
— David Killick (@DavidJKillick) June 23, 2021
Mr Gutwein later said he would refer to Ms O’Connor as “leader of the Tasmanian Greens”.
Ms O’Connor then asked Mr Gutwein a question about UNESCO’s discussion of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area.
Mr Gutwein responded with a lengthy speech about the conduct of the Bob Brown Foundation during protest action in the Tarkine.
10.31am: Mr Gutwein has rejected claims the Integrity Commission dropped an investigation into the funding of the 2018 state election because it was getting too expensive.
Premier Peter Gutwein said former Labor leader Rebecca White was quoted giving expense as a reason Operation Hyperion was wound up.
In response to a question about Liberal candidate Adam Brooks, Mr Gutwein instead proffered a letter from the Integrity Commission saying the claim was untrue.
“Did Ms White lie and mislead in that article yesterday and if so she should stand and clarify the record?” he asked Parliament.
Ms White has not yet responded to the claim.
Independent MP Kristie Johnston followed with her first question: Asking the government why it wouldn’t back Labor’s policy of providing free school lunches for needy kids.
10am, June 23, 2021:
Premier Peter Gutwein has faced questions about his handling of Liberal candidate Adam Brooks in the first Question Time of the new parliament.
Labor leader David O’Byrne asked the Premier what steps he took to ensure that Mr Brooks was fit for public office.
Mr Brooks, who is facing criminal charges in Queensland, resigned as candidate after being elected for the Liberals in the seat of Braddon at the May 1 poll.
It is his second resignation from the parliament. The first came after a damning Integrity Commission report.
First question time of the 50th Parliament. Labor leader David O'Byrne opens with a question about Adam Brooks. #politas
— David Killick (@DavidJKillick) June 23, 2021
Mr Gutwein told parliament he had no inkling Mr Brooks might not be suitable to sit in parliament.
“I had no dealing with him that indicated that he was not a fit and proper candidate,” Mr Gutwein said.
The Premier said it would be “unreasonable and unwarranted” for him to comment on matters that might end up before the courts.
But he said he wished Mr Brooks well.
“I do wish him well. He is unwell. There is no two ways about it,” Mr Gutwein said.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor accused Mr Gutwein of letting down the women who had complained about Mr Brooks’ alleged use of fake identities on online dating sites and the ABC journalist who exposed the conduct.
Premier Gutwein is giving the Opposition a post-mortem on their election loss in response to a Dorothy Dix from a backbencher. Labor asked another on Adam Brooks. #politas
— David Killick (@DavidJKillick) June 23, 2021
Premier announces fresh bid for reconciliation with first people
June 22, 2021:
TASMANIA will make a fresh bid for reconciliation with its first people — which could include a treaty, Premier Peter Gutwein has announced.
The policy was unveiled on the opening day of the state’s 50th parliament, a largely ceremonial affair which included a speech from the new Governor Barbara Baker and the swearing in of members of the House of Assembly.
Mr Gutwein revealed the new reconciliation push after the Governor’s speech on Tuesday afternoon.
The treatment of Tasmania’s Aboriginal people by the British colonisers — including the Black War of the 1830s — resulted in the near destruction of the original inhabitants and has have been described by some historians as genocide.
“We will be appointing Professor Kate Warner, the former governor, along with her colleague Professor Tim McCormick to consult with the Tasmanian Aboriginals in terms of a pathway to further reconciliation,” Mr Gutwein said.
“I think it’s an important body of work and one that I that will be provided back to me in a report later this year, which I will then tabled in parliament, with a view to understanding from Tasmanian Aboriginals what the pathway is to reconciliation and what their views are on a truth telling, and also other matters that are important to them.
“This will be a sincere engagement, whereby we want to work with the Tasmanian Aboriginal people to ensure that we can find a pathway to reconciliation.”
“One of the matters that Kate Warner will provide in her report in terms of the recommendations will be on what a pathway to treaty could look like.”
Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell welcomed the announcement.
“This is very welcome news,” he said. “Aboriginal people have been waiting for some sign of genuine commitment from government to establishing a partnership with Aboriginal people to deal with old wounds.
“Although there is a long way to go, the speech of government policy and intent is an important beginning.”
The first question time of the new parliament will take place on Wednesday, Tuesday’s proceedings was mainly taken up by administrative matters, including the tabling of government bills and speeches in response to the Governor’s address.
A major lash in electricity prices on the way for Tasmanians
TASMANIAN home and business power prices will fall after the state government announced big cuts to electricity prices.
Energy Minister Guy Barnett says the Tasmanian Economic Regulator has approved a 7.11 per cent decrease in Aurora Energy’s residential electricity price to apply from July 1.
“This will mean Tasmanians will be experiencing some of the lowest prices in the nation, with the decrease to deliver annual bill savings of up to $145 for the average household depending on their tariff,” he said.
Tasmanian small business customers will receive a decrease of 11 per cent on the regulated electricity prices — representing around $183 per year in savings.
“In total, this represents savings of at least $30 million for Tasmania’s 243,000 households and about $5.3 million in savings for 29,000 small businesses,” Mr Barnett said.
“We understand that the cost of living is a major issue for all Tasmanians and we are well on track with our Tasmania-First Energy Policy which aims to deliver the lowest regulated electricity prices in the nation by 2022.”
He said a review of power costs in August would determine whether a further cut was needed to deliver the promise.
He said power prices were down 18 per cent in the last seven years for residential customers and 27 per cent for business customers.
But those with solar power systems will see their feed-in tariff for power they put back into the grid cut from 8.471 cents per kilowatt hour to 6.501c/kWh.
The Government has also recently provided a $125 winter supplement for eligible electricity concession holders reducing energy bills for around 90,000 Tasmanians at a cost of up to $12 million.
New faces take their place for Tasmania’s 50th parliament
Tasmania’s 50th parliament has assembled for a day of largely ceremonial sittings in Hobart.
Twenty-four of the 25 members of the House of Assembly took their seats shortly after 11am.
New Labor leader David O’Byrne took his place directly opposite Mr Gutwein for the first time, watched over by a large media pack and three people in the public gallery.
The Liberals won 13 of the seats in the House at the May 1 election; Labor won nine; the Greens, two and independents, one.
There were several new faces in the House: independent Kristie Johnston as well as Labor’s Dean Winter and Janie Finlay.
Former Labor member turned independent and now Liberal Madeleine Ogilvie took her place on the government backbench.
After a short visit to the Legislative Council for the reading of the Letters Patent, members for each seat swore their allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and promised their adherence to the Parliamentary Code of Conduct.
The House was formally notified of Adam Brooks’ resignation, and of the election of Felix Ellis on a recount.
Mr Ellis was then sworn in and the 25-member Assembly was complete.
Liberal Mark Shelton was elected as speaker, with a laugh from the floor when the Clerk asked “are there any other nominations?”.
Liberal Sue Hickey sensationally snatched the job from Rene Hidding on the first day of the last parliament, with the support of Labor and the Greens.
Ms Hickey lost her seat at the election and is now running for the Glenorchy mayoral role vacated by Ms Johnston.
Hurry up and hire new EPA boss, Libs told
The state opposition has implored the government to appoint a new director of the environmental watchdog, five months after its former boss advised the Premier of his intention to retire.
Still waiting: Premier’s promise to doctors not a reality yet
Last year, the Premier ordered the Department of Health to change the rules and allow rural generalists to expand their scope of practice. But that has still not happened.