[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Premier in Quagmire on Parliamentary Reform_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

PREMIER FAILS IN ATTEMPT TO DISTRACT FROM GOVERNMENT'S MEDIOCRITY
 
Ministerial Movements Must go Before Working Arrangements of Parliament
Committee

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today said that Premier David Bartlett's attempt to
distract attention away from the lack of capacity in his government by
proposing to radically restructure Tasmania's Parliament was thrown back
in his face by the Legislative Council last night.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that the Council's decision to support
Ministers moving into the Lower House for Question Time puts the
pressure squarely on David Bartlett, who instructed government Members
to vote against such a proposal last week in the House of Assembly.

Mr McKim also warned that changes to the fundamental structure of
Tasmania's Parliament such as those proposed by the Legislative Council
last night may require a new Act of Parliament to be passed, and
therefore must be carefully considered in the Working Arrangements of
Parliament Committee prior to being implemented.

"Mr Bartlett's entire strategy has been to distract attention away from
the mediocrity of his government, and as a result he now has a
procedural mess on his hands after the Upper House rejected both plan A
and his Plan B."

"This is a highly embarrassing reversal for a Premier whose primary
concern has always been his own party's survival in government rather
than improving transparency and the functioning of Tasmania's
Parliament."

"The concept of bringing Ministers down from the Legislative Council to
the House of Assembly is such a serious proposal that it may require a
new Act of Parliament to make it lawful, and certainly will need
significant changes to the House of Assembly Standing Orders." 

Mr McKim said that the Greens will not support a major restructure of
Tasmania's Parliament without it being carefully considered in the
proper forum of the Working Arrangements of Parliament Committee.

"If Mr Bartlett was fair dinkum about improving the way that Parliament
works he would be addressing the fundamental problem, which is that the
House of Assembly is too small."




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