Sue Neales Mercury
But regardless of the legal aspects of Mr Green’s central role in the TCC affair, there is a much more simple issue at stake now. Did Mr Green display the standards of responsibility and professionalism expected by the public of a government minister? The courts heard multiple tales of Mr Green disregarding legal and bureaucratic advice, being hustled by political mates, his intent to keep the deal secret and failure to consult with his Cabinet colleagues. Not to mention subsequently “coaching” and pressuring his advisers not to tell the whole truth to police. Mr Green is voluntarily a public figure, paid substantially from the public purse, from whom high standards are rightly asked and justifiably expected. He now says he has admitted his “mistake”, has endured a tough two years on the back bench and should therefore be forgiven and the TCC incident forgotten. But does that mean Mr Green is fit to be, and capable of being, a Cabinet minister again, either now or in the future? The answer, despite Mr Green’s insouciance, would have to be in the negative for the majority of Tasmanians. Read more here
Earlier, on Tasmanian Times:
Mr Green did not allude to any of that in his extraordinary self-justifying speech to Parliament yesterday. He would have us gloss over or forget that part of his record in the public sphere. He would have us believe he is entirely a different character, unblemished by his record as Paul Lennon’s Right-Hand-Man and Adoring Acolyte. Well, we haven’t forgotten! And we won’t! There still are too many questions relating to Mr Green’s fitness for high public office. Read more here
