[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Move for Extra Parliament Day Defeated by Labor_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

LABOR SHUTS DOWN PARLIAMENT AT TIME OF CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE

Usual 3rd Sitting Day Cancelled for the Royal Hobart Show

Nick McKim MP
Greens Opposition Leader

Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today sought to have the House of Assembly sit
tomorrow rather than have it adjourn as it traditionally does for the
Royal Hobart Show day public holiday.

Greens Opposition Leader Nick McKim MP, whose suggestion was supported
by the Liberal Party, said that the seriousness of the current
constitutional crisis demanded the recall of Parliament to scrutinise
and have input into any plan that the Premier may propose to resolve the
current crisis of confidence. 

The House of Assembly usually sits on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
of each parliament sitting week, but Show Week sees the Parliamentary
week truncated by a day.

"The Premier should be showing leadership and a preparedness to work
hard rather than shutting down Parliament during a serious governance
crisis," Mr McKim said.

"The Parliament altering its schedule to sit for an extra day to work
through the issue would have sent a strong message to the community that
politicians as a group are prepared to work hard to sort out this mess,
but unfortunately the government was not prepared to accept the
suggestion."

"Clearly the government is in denial of the seriousness of the current
crisis, and would prefer to grandstand at the show rather than debate
the real issues facing Tasmania."

"Political commentators have described the current situation as a
constitutional crisis, and the Greens believe that the Parliament should
continue to sit in an attempt to restore community confidence."




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