Speaker Sue Hickey takes criticism on the Cheek

Former Tasmanian Liberal leader Bob Cheek, who led the party to a devastating defeat in the 2002 election, has delivered a scathing assessment of current Speaker Sue Hickey.

FORMER Tasmanian Liberal leader Bob Cheek, who led the party to a devastating defeat in the 2002 election, has delivered a scathing assessment of current Speaker Sue Hickey.

Speaking to FontCast, a Tasmanian news, politics and business podcast, the former Zap Fitness owner said Ms Hickey had put Premier Will Hodgman in an “impossible position”.

“I was very sad actually when the Speaker Sue Hickey turned on the Liberal Party,” Mr Cheek said.

“Will Hodgman, Peter Gutwein and Jeremy Rockliff have done a fantastic job for the state and they deserve to be able to run it the way they want it to without having to rely on a speaker who is now beholden to Labor and the Greens.”

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Former Tasmanian Liberal leader Bob Cheek. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

When asked as a former party leader how he would handle Ms Hickey, and whether he would bring her inside the inner circle and put her in cabinet, he said: “No, definitely not.

“No, you can’t reward treachery, that would be a really bad look,” Mr Cheek said.

“I don’t know how you handle it to be honest. I guess they’ve got to negotiate with her each time.

“It’s an impossible position really for Will Hodgman and I think that’s the thing that’s a great pity for Tasmania.”

Mr Cheek said he did like Ms Hickey from their dealings in business and thought she was a good lord mayor.

“But I just think with delusions of grandeur to go and do what she did is a great pity,” he said.

“She would have been a minister by now with Rene Hidding going. She should have just got in there and worked.”

Speaker Sue Hickey at Windsor Court. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Ms Hickey, who said she also liked Mr Cheek, said he belonged to the Liberal old school.

“The Liberals are suffering nationally and at a state level from group think and no diversity of ideas is tolerated,” she said.

“The world has changed and a government should be more nimble than they are and more responsive to their constituency who want action on climate change, want the housing shortage addressed, want cost of living for low income earners addressed and health needs addressed.

“The Premier had a chance to make me a minister. I’m beholden to no one except my own conscience.

“The Liberals choose to have me in the naughty corner and nothing can be achieved unless we sit down and have a proper conversation.”

Ms Hickey said no approach for that conversation had been made yet.