Poll: Labor rogered

What the Libs’ reckon:

Media Release
WILL HODGMAN, MHA
Deputy Leader of the State Liberal Team
Saturday February 18, 2006

Which special deals for special mates were “mistakes” and which would Premier Lennon do all over again?

Deputy Leader of the State Liberal Team Will Hodgman today called on Premier Paul Lennon to explain which of his special deals for special mates were mistakes, and which ones he would do all over again.

Mr Hodgman said Premier Lennon had to date arrogantly refused to apologise or admit any wrongdoing in:

Handing Labor mate and former Governor Richard Butler a $650,000 payout when he was not entitled to a cent;
Accepting tens of thousands of dollars of free hospitality from PBL-owned Crown Casino on the eve of handing the PBL joint venture Betfair a $700 million gaming licence, and arranging in circumstances we still don’t know $90,000 worth of free publicity from the PBL-owned Womens Weekly about the same time;
His involvement in the awarding of contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars by departments under his Ministerial control to his brother’s company, Global Value Management;
Spending more than $1 million on extravagant office upgrades for Labor backbenchers and Ministers;
Appointing more than 80 special friends to special positions

“When quizzed on the issue of special deals for special mates at yesterday’s media conference, Premier Lennon stated yesterday that he had “made mistakes”.

“Tasmanians will be perplexed as to which special deals for special mates Premier Lennon is referring to,” Mr Hodgman said.

“For example, Premier Lennon clearly doesn’t believe that accepting tens of thousands of dollars of lavish hospitality on the eve of licensing Betfair was a mistake, because he has arrogantly stated that he would do it all over again.

“In relation to his involvement in the awarding of contracts to his brother’s company, is Mr Lennon still maintaining he did nothing wrong, or is he admitting he made a mistake? Does he concede that he breached the Government’s Code of Conduct and will he be providing the relevant correspondence and communications between himself and his departments and his brother’s company to the Auditor General to ascertain whether he has also breached tendering processes?

“Either way, given the Premier’s new admission, Tasmanians are entitled to know which ones of his special deals for special mates he now considers were mistakes, and which ones he would do all over again.

“Restoring accountability to government and getting it right for all Tasmanians are key issues in this election campaign and Tasmanians deserve to know where the Premier stands.”

What the Greens reckon:

Media Release
Nick McKim MHA
Lead Candidate for Franklin
Saturday, 18 February 2006

CALL FOR TASMANIANS TO ENROL TO VOTE!

The Tasmanian Greens today called on all eligible Tasmanians to enrol to vote in the upcoming state election.

Greens Opposition Justice spokesperson Nick McKim MHA said that it is particularly important that young people enrolled to vote, as well as people who had recently moved to Tasmania who may have yet to update their current address details with the Electoral Commission.

“Democracy is precious, and can only survive with the participation and support of all its citizens, young and old,” Mr McKim said.

“Any Tasmanian who can vote for the first time in this State Election has until 6pm Thursday the 23rd to grab an enrolment form, fill it in and lodge it with the Tasmanian Electoral Office.”

“Many places around the world do not even have freedom of speech, let alone a functioning democracy, and we all need to understand that along with all of the rights bestowed by our democracy, we also have a responsibility to vote.”

“This election gives voters the chance to have a say in the future direction of our state, so people who are eligible, but have not yet enrolled to vote, should do so as soon as possible.”

“Tasmania’s democratic system is one of the best in the world, and will be even better with higher participation rates.”

Mr McKim also said that the Greens would be actively reminding first time young voters to enrol to vote during the forthcoming University O Week, and said that Tasmanian Electoral Office Enrol to Vote Forms can be accessed from the Tasmanian Electoral Office and their website, and Greens Offices will also stock the forms.

Media Release
Peg Putt MHA
Tasmanian Greens Opposition Leader
Friday, 17 February 2006

EMRS POLL RESULTS ARE EXCELLENT SPRINGBOARD FOR GREENS ELECTION CAMPAIGN

The Tasmanian Greens today believe that their increasing levels of voter support indicated in the EMRS Quarterly Poll are an excellent springboard for their election campaign, and reflect that voters are losing faith in Labor but do not see the Liberals offering anything different to entice them.

Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA said that the huge Greens vote in Denison confirms that their hope of electing two Greens in this heartland electorate is reasonable and on track, and pointed out that exaggerated negative point-scoring against the Greens by the Laborials was simply turning voters off.

Ms Putt said that a Balance-of-Power Parliament would be a big positive for Tasmania, ending secret back-room deals and allowing progressive policies to come to fruition.

“This positive poll result is the best possible springboard for the Greens’ election campaign, and shows that voters want our positive vision and are turned off by the exaggerated negativity of the Laborials around balance of power,” Ms Putt said.

“In Denison, which is the Greens’ heartland electorate, the likelihood is that Cassy O’Connor will be elected alongside of me, and she will make a great addition to the Tasmanian Parliament with her strong voice for social justice and the environment.”

“Whilst our Braddon vote is lower than other electorates at 10%, this has historically been the case, but it is a higher first preference vote than we have ever received here.”

“We have always relied on preferences flowing to the Greens to get our candidate elected on the North West Coast and believe this seat is still within our reach.”