Where to from here?

Nostradamus

There would not have been much more to be said about the situation except that The Australian published a short piece by Matthew Denholm last weekend (31 May-1 June) which defied all attempts to find an electronic version. It was entitled: “Smooth shift or every man for himself?” While we get most of our staple diet from corridors and journo’s bars, young Mr Denholm presented an interesting view – that the incoming Premier was not told of the Lennon decision to quit, let alone receive a hand-over briefing. Instead, writes Denholm: “Bartlett was told by a Lennon confidant at 10 o’clock on Sunday night that he would be Premier sometime after sunrise. Not even time to buy a new suit.” This would appear to confirm all the rumours about Lennon’s disregard for an unwanted Deputy.
UNDER more normal circumstances, I would like to write something optimistic about the future but certain elements of the recent past cling, like something unpleasant to the soles of one’s shoes. It’s only when they get warm that the stench percolates.

Do we now know whether Paul Lennon was pushed or if he jumped? The answer at present seems to be place your money and you take your choice of rumour and that doesn’t appear likely to change in the near future. So why bother?

The response is simple: the former Premier has left his office to a political neophyte, whom he reportedly did not want as Deputy and certainly for those who saw the scene when Mr. Bartlett made his first entrance as Deputy Premier, there were no hugs from the Leader: on the contrary, the great man looked wooden and plainly unhappy.

There would not have been much more to be said about the situation except that The Australian published a short piece by Matthew Denholm last weekend (31 May-1 June) which defied all attempts to find an electronic version. It was entitled: “Smooth shift or every man for himself?” While we get most of our staple diet from corridors and journo’s bars, young Mr Denholm presented an interesting view – that the incoming Premier was not told of the Lennon decision to quit, let alone receive a hand-over briefing. Instead, writes Denholm: “Bartlett was told by a Lennon confidant at 10 o’clock on Sunday night that he would be Premier sometime after sunrise. Not even time to buy a new suit.” This would appear to confirm all the rumours about Lennon’s disregard for an unwanted Deputy.

The various conflicting statements about the nature of the proposed Ethics Committee and whether it will have teeth and be able to investigate Tas police and other desirable targets remains to be seen. If it doesn’t wind up with teeth and resemble an ICAC, we don’t want another bureaucratically-run whitewashing organization. Mr. Bartlett must put his stamp on government as soon as possible.

He is, after all, only a State Premier and while he might be a fan of The West Wing, Jed Bartlet he ain’t!

But it is pretty obvious that he intends to cut his own path forward through the undergrowth. On Monday afternoon he turned up at the Howrah community centre and spoke briefly to assembled members from various branches of the ALP in Franklin. It appears that he was well received but he did not stay for the discussion, which was apparently about Labor running candidates in local government elections. A person who attended commented that the Premier’s message about his government being new and focusing on being clever, kinder and more communicative was direct and quite informative.

The only problem is that Tasmania was once going to be “the intelligent Island” but we appear to be the dumb bum state. As for being kinder, that would be a change and communicative merits an article of its own.

At least Bartlett is going to retain the education portfolio and I see this as a plus. What concerns me is the fact that the same people that stood behind Paul Lennon stand behind David Bartlett and although there is a lot of backslapping going on, he will have to check his back regularly for the clatter of cutlery. Those who claim that he is being mentored by former Tasmanian giants are a problem. Why can’t Mickey Mouse, Fran Bladel (Giddy’s mentor) and some of the human detritus putting their names forward for the next state conference of the ALP have the decency to either die or retire. They have had their day and a good clean out is required.

To quote a metaphor from someone who impressed me mightily, it could be suggested to the new Premier that he “sails fast, close to the wind but always under his own colours.”

If there are no new directions and policies, a mere change of leadership will cut little ice with the majority who now appear opposed to the ALP government in this state.

Nostradamus