Sue Neales is right, (Mercury 8/5/10) a little humility goes a long way.
But what double standards riddle Ms Neales’ writing. Her attack began before either Nick McKim or Cassy O’Connor had said a word in the House. “Plush” and “gas-guzzling” limousines for the two Greens cabinet ministers she scowled having presumably never guzzled gas herself. No mention of the other favoured eight Labor cabinet members or Leader of the Opposition in similar cars with similar drivers – or of the Greens’ proposal for these cars to be replaced by hybrids.
Here we go again.
Remember Peg Putt being pilloried for suggesting, logically, that in future coalition governments the Greens leader become Deputy Premier, just as the Nationals’ leader automatically becomes deputy in any Liberal–Nationals government in Australia. That was unthinkable to the politically correct scribes who know the Greens’ place in politics – humbled, unequal and always fitting the preconceived requirement of marginalisation.
Ms Neales’ insular thinking about the exact role of the Greens in Tasmania’s new government might also broaden out. She is critical of the Greens’ plan to still question Labor in parliament or join with the Liberals to get better outcomes for Tasmania. However, this is standard fare in European politics and even here it is not new. It happened in 1989–92 in the Labor–Green Accord. For example, when Labor moved to close 22 public schools, Christine Milne’s bill to save them sailed through the House, with Robin Gray’s support, and then through the Legislative Council. That is why New Town Boys High, for one, is still there. Because the humility-lacking Greens called Labor out over poor policy.
Hubris has indeed undone many a politician: witness John Howard’s obliteration after he got control of the Senate in 2004. Yet Sue Neales’ demands of the Greens, her journalistic hubris, like her discomfort with the end of majority government, puts on show an unedifying failure to be positive and encouraging about the governance which can emerge from Tasmania’s new, more highly tensile political situation. Bucking journalistic precedence, she offers no “honeymoon” for the Greens.
In fact the Mercury headlined the Greens’ first breakthrough wrongly as a “double-cross”. In the new parliament’s first hour the Liberals supported the Greens’ Tim Morris into the role of Deputy Speaker. This was a proper parliamentary vote after decades in which the majority party has simply anointed one of its own to the post.
Ms Neales could show some humility herself. How about undertaking a little self-reflection on her Green-directed barbs of “arrogance”, “scrappy and vicious”,
enjoying “power and perks” and “no longer hoping to occupy the high moral ground”, because all of these epithets apply equally to herself.
As with politicians serving electorates, the journalists’ job of keeping the public informed can be a demanding and thankless. But fair, balanced comment costs no more than scorn and derision. Ms Neales should rethink her hostility.
A little generosity, like humility, goes a long way.
