It’s a conspiracy!

ABC Radio’s Tim Cox: You were asked yesterday Mr Lennon, of course, about the renovations on your house. I mean as much as anything it’s going to be about perceptions as you would be well aware … You’re going to have to go on the front foot with it. What will you be doing to get rid of some of those perceptions that seem to be persisting?

Paul Lennon: These are perceptions created by some propaganda organised by a media person. You see Mr Tuffin, who I understand is an assistant editor* with The Mercury runs a dubious website. Now he puts up some propaganda on his website and then other sections of the media take it as some sort of fact.

Now I have no opportunity to defend myself against that sort of behaviour. Now if I have had some renovations done at my house … what is wrong with that? Of course I am entitled with my family to buy a home and enter into proper commercial arrangements to have renovations done. Now all of a sudden people question that.

Well the questions in fact are coming because of propaganda put up by the dubious website by Mr Tuffin who I understand is an assistant editor at The Mercury.

Tim Cox: … It’s about perceptions … what will you be doing to take the sting out of it?

Paul Lennon: I’m not sure what I can or have to do. I mean The Mercury asked me about the renovations at my house months ago and the same reporter asked the same questions yesterday, following propaganda put up on a dubious website by another employee of The Mercury.

I don’t know how I can respond to those sort of matters except to say that yes, as everybody is aware because I’ve had lots of photos taken at my house recently, that we have done some renovations there.

It’s a lovely old home. An historic old home … that’s what we are doing, restoring a house. Now I imagine it’s going to take years to do that … some of the work I can’t do myself so I’ve had to contract work in.

*The actual truth: Tasmanian Times has no connection whatsoever with The Mercury. Lindsay Tuffin has absolutely no editorial input into the decision-making processes of The Mercury He is a part-time downtable night desk copy editor engaged solely in production. Tasmanian Times is done entirely in his spare time on an eight-year-old laptop. The website’s life comes from contributors whose voices are rarely heard in mainstream media and whose contributions — for example, Pokies: this is a scandal, and The Emperor’s new clothes — have raised issues of deep significance to Tasmanians, issues comparitively bypassed by mainstream media.

And, Mr Cox and the ABC, it’s gone beyond perceptions. The renovations done by Gunns’ company Hinman Wright and Manser have been confirmed by Premier Lennon. They are fact. But questions remain: The Premier’s house (3)

And, Where are the Libs in this … Peg Putt has asked the question: Was the work for the Premier done at mates’ rates? The Libs: Zilch.

And, In answer to reader queries, Tasmanian Times published the question of the Premier’s renovations after a year of receiving rumour, gossip, emails, and evidence of previous media inquiries, alluded to by the Premier himself. It did so in what it believes to be the public interest. And despite Premier-Lennon-minder Matthew Rogers’ best efforts it cannot be labelled a Green conspiracy whipped up by Cassy O’Connor.

And, The Mercury has updated its website: Dirty tricks