Hag takes full credit for terrifying Rene into yesterday’s pledge “to govern in majority or not at all”.

Her contention that the next state poll will result in the Government of State Unity:
Sow the wind:

“It will be a Hung Parliament, the Greens picking up sufficient seats to tip out dismal Paul and his under-talented lieutenants. But there will be no Labor-Green Accord. There will be no Liberal-Green Accord. There will be no Minority Government supported by the Greens. But there will be the Government of State Unity. Yes the Liberal-Labor Accord …”

… obviously has spooked the Lockstep Libs into this kneejerk:

Media Release
RENE HIDDING, MHA
Leader of the State Opposition
Monday May 16, 2005
Liberals sign written commitment to govern in majority or not at all: Minority Government ruled out.

All members of the State Parliamentary Liberal Party have today signed a pledge ruling out, under any circumstances, forming a minority government.

The signed commitment guarantees that the State Liberals would govern Tasmania in majority, or not at all.

Mr Hidding said that with an election due next year, but likely to be much earlier than this, it was paramount that the people of Tasmania understood that the State Liberals would not, under any circumstances, form a minority government, with the Greens or anyone else.

“The State Liberals are in touch with the people of Tasmania, and their needs and aspirations, and one of the things they want is stable majority government,” Mr Hidding said.

“The Labor Green accord was an unmitigated disaster for this State. Tasmanians tell us in no uncertain terms that they want stable majority government.

“The State Liberals will govern in majority, or not at all. This is the commitment that each and every one of my elected members solemnly makes to the people of Tasmania today.”

Mr Hidding said all Liberal candidates would also be required to sign the pledge as a condition of their selection.
Mr Hidding said the acid was now on all members of the Lennon Labor Government to make a similar commitment to the people of Tasmania.

“I challenge Paul Lennon to get every one of his elected Labor members, and all Labor candidates at the next election, to also sign a pledge ruling out under any circumstances forming a minority government with the Greens, or anyone else.

“Failure to do so would leave open the possibility that after the next State election, Tasmania could return to the disastrous days of a Labor Green accord which would be a dreadful outcome for our State.”

Mr Hidding said Paul Lennon himself signed a similar pledge under Michael Field’s leadership in 1994 and if it is to be believed that Labor would not form another Labor Green Accord, Mr Lennon should now sign a new pledge with all his current Labor colleagues as well as all Labor candidates for the next State election.

All of which drew this derisive response from Peg:

Peg Putt MHA
GREENS OPPOSITION LEADER
Monday, 16 May 2005
LIBERAL STUNT ON MAJORITY GOVERNMENT AN AFFRONT TO DEMOCRACY

Have They Ruled Out Working With Labor

The Tasmanian Greens today dismissed the Liberal Party attempt to bully voters by aping Labor’s previous efforts and enforcing a pledge to ‘govern in majority or not at all’ as a stunt, saying that this was a great affront to democracy.

Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA said that the Greens are now the only party which is committed to abiding by the will of the Tasmanian people as expressed in the election.

Ms Putt also pointed out that Liberal and Labor had a unity of view on most major policy issues and that if there was a balance of power situation post-election then the high likelihood was that those two parties should look at working together.

“Rene Hidding’s stunt over majority government is an unpalatable attempt to bully voters and it is an affront to democracy not to be prepared to abide by the will of the people,” Ms Putt said.

“In aping Labor, the Liberals seem intent on ruling themselves out of government – a very odd platform to run on.”

“Labor and Liberal have a common view on most major issues and if a balance of power situation was the result of the next state election those two parties should arguably look at working together.”

“Don’t forget that all three parties have the balance of power in a minority government situation and that we have to find a way to work together if that is the result the people deliver at the ballot box.”

Of course, it’s easy for the Libs to make this grandstanding pledge … constitutionally they are not required to form government in the event of a hung parliament; Labor as the current government, is.

So, we will still be living in interesting times come the poll … because Hag is convinced that Tasmania’s weary, divided voters are going to slam ’em down.

Meanwhile, have we not had awfully dismal sights on our free-to-air of late:

Overfed men in expensive coats backslapping one another around the trees and sawmills of Tasmania.

This time it was Kim and Paul, earlier this week it was John (at least he’s not overfed and does have a rather natty little number in jackets) and Paul.

All this reinforces this stark and dreadful truth … where is the differentation, where is the choice between our major parties on Tasmania’s most divisive issue (Tasmania’s most divisive issue … still?).

Of course, it doesn’t exist – Lib is Labor, Labor is Lib. WE are the exploitative masters. Do as you are told.

Oh, god!

I finish with this link to a predictable rant from the forestry industry’s friend and rabid anti-green, Barns:
Hard green line loses its impact