Embattled Labor leader Bryan Green to be at helm for election despite party rumblings

EMBATTLED  Labor leader Bryan Green has declared he will lead the party to the next state election.

Labor Leader Bryan Green is adamant he has the support of his parliamentary colleagues. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

EMBATTLED  Labor leader Bryan Green has declared he will lead the party to the next state election, after a tough week that raised the prospect of David O’Byrne’s return.

Mr Green is adamant he has the support of his parliamentary colleagues, despite calls from inside the party for former premier Lara Giddings to quit and allow the return of Mr O’Byrne.

“I will be leading the Labor team to the next state election,” Mr Green told the Sunday Tasmanian.

“One of the best parts of being leader of the parliamentary Labor Party is that I have a strong team, I have the confidence of my caucus colleagues and I enjoy their loyalty.”

The Labor leader’s week began with accusations he had gone missing to focus on a trout fishing tourism business.

An EMRS poll released last Monday indicated just 20 per cent of Tasmanians would prefer Mr Green as Premier, well behind Will Hodgman’s 52 per cent.

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Labor powerbrokers then ramped up the pressure on Ms Giddings to give up her seat in Franklin to allow former minister Mr O’Byrne to return on a countback.

David O'Byrne.

Lara Giddings.

With speculation about an early election growing by the day, Mr Green is clinging to hope he can emulate underdog Bill Shorten’s unexpected performance in last year’s federal poll and put Labor in a position to form government.

The EMRS poll suggested that would almost certainly be minority government, and even Mr Hodgman’s Liberal Government would be under pressure to retain a clear majority with a 35-29 lead.

The possibility of One Nation, Jacqui Lambie Network and Andrew Wilkie-endorsed candidates contesting an election only adds to the prospect of a hung parliament.

“Our team is not driven by polls, unlike the Liberals who should be alarmed by their continuing slide,” Mr Green said.

“Tasmanian voters are awake to a government that has done very little over the past three years and is now rushing to cobble ideas together that they know are against their best interests.”

Mr Green’s leadership has been under the blowtorch from the time he took the reins following Labor’s defeat after 16 years in 2014.

Considered by many an interim leader until Scott Bacon or Rebecca White were ready – or Mr O’Byrne could return – he is respected for rebuilding the party’s foundations after its four years sharing government with the Greens.

One of the best parts of being leader of the parliamentary Labor Party is that I have a strong team, I have the confidence of my caucus colleagues and I enjoy their loyalty.

But recent confusion over Labor’s position on salmon farming and a less than convincing ABC interview last week have created doubts.

The state’s first female premier, Ms Giddings commanded a huge vote in Franklin as Mr O’Byrne lost in the same electorate. She appears unlikely to run again and the party is becoming increasingly desperate she take one for the team and resign.

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Ms Giddings has given no indication whether this will happen and appears determined to see through legislation on euthanasia.

Mr O’Byrne, long considered a future leader, is under immense pressure to put his hand up and insiders believe he is considering a move from his position as chief operating officer of the Beacon Foundation back into politics.

He declined to comment to the Sunday Tasmanian.

Should Mr O’Byrne return to parliament, he is far from guaranteed the leadership.

Insiders believe changing leaders if an early election is called would be too disruptive.

The party’s rules require a leader to be elected by the rank and file when in opposition, unless a candidate is unopposed, while unions will also have a say.

Rebecca White.

Scott Bacon.

Mr Bacon has ruled out a challenge and Ms White may have put leadership ambitions on hold after recently becoming a mother.

“We are focused on keeping pressure on the Government,” Ms White said.

“Others can run commentary but I’d rather concentrate on doing my job.”

The party is keen on Mr O’Byrne’s energy in a senior portfolio, along with a younger replacement for 74-year-old veteran MP David Llewellyn.

If Ms Giddings stays put, Mr O’Byrne would need to nominate for preselection in May, if he decided to run.

Political scientist Kevin Bonham said leaders had been rushed in to fight election campaigns before.

“We have seen cases like Bob Hawke where someone was just parachuted in and immediately won,” Dr Bonham said.

“There have been cases of people being parachuted in, like Campbell Newman, from outside parliament.”

Former Attorney-General and current Property Council chief Brian Wightman was also once touted as a future ALP leader, before losing in Bass in 2014.

He told the Sunday Tasmanian he had no plans to run again.

Insiders agree that Mr Green is a great bloke and a healer of the party.

But they also agree something needs to change.

As one put it: “By now you would consider there should be a coherent story, for there to be recognisable leaders in portfolio areas, for there to be a program.”