Bob McMahon
ALL Tasmanians, who may one day find themselves in trouble with the law, which is probably all of us in this distorted time and place, should rejoice in Chief Justice Underwood’s sentence in the John White, Tasmanian Compliance Corporation, case.
John White, whom we are told has suffered enough in this saga, was sentenced by Underwood on the basis that he did not know he was doing anything illegal. At long last the defence of “ignorance of the law” has succeeded. “Forgive them for they know not what they do”, said Jesus, and Underwood manifestly thought He had a point.
John White, also escaped, and rightly so, any guilt by association. As a former Labor minister, it is apparently unconscionable to imagine that he would expect, or receive, any special treatment or favours from his former colleagues.
That’s not how we do things in Tasmania.
Ignorance is a common defence in our parliaments and it is gratifying to witness an expanding consistency across all the institutions of this great country. Perhaps I’m being a nitpicker if I suggest that when someone who occupies a responsible position such as Prime Minister, Premier, Minister or Member of Parliament, pleads ignorance when it is his or her job to know, then that responsible person is either lying or admitting to incompetence.
Yes, that’s a little harsh in these infinitely forgiving times.
Therefore we anticipate Bryan Green walking into court next year and leaving shortly afterwards, with his smirk intact; that’s assuming the Public Prosecutor will even bother with a retrial. As a free man Green may seek his former positions in the parliament and in the love and affection of the electorate.
Will the electorate, in our new PM’s favourite word, “embrace” him? Or will the people of Tasmania lump him in with his mate Paul Lennon and a bunch of other members of the Govn’t and opposition and hit him with the judgment which is best expressed in the words of Oliver Cromwell: “You’ve been here long enough for any good you’ve done. In God’s name – GO.”
