Wriedt relinguished: What Paula says

Paula Wriedt MR

“I am deeply distressed by his refusal to do so, and am concerned by the Premier’s apparent lack of support and understanding. I have been a hard working member of the Government for the last ten years as a Minister holding several senior portfolios during this time, as well as juggling the demands of family life. “As I have previously stated I accept responsibility for my actions and the hurt they have caused. I regret not having sought help earlier for my depression,” Ms Wriedt said.
MEDIA STATEMENT FROM
PAULA WRIEDT MP

12 September 2008

PREMIER SACKS MINISTER SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION

Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Paula Wriedt said today that she was deeply distressed by her abrupt sacking from Cabinet by the Premier, David Bartlett.

Ms Wriedt said she met with the Premier at her office at 4:45pm yesterday, along with her Head of Office, Lesley French, the Premier’s Chief of Staff, Terry Field and her estranged husband, Dale Rahmanovic.

“At that meeting the Premier indicated to me that he believed that I had a good future ahead of me as a Cabinet Minister, however not at this point in time.

“I informed the Premier that I had been provided with medical advice to the effect that I should continue to focus on my recovery, and was not in a position to make a decision on my future career at such short notice.

“I asked the Premier for another fortnight in which to continue with my recovery and then make a decision, however he was unwilling to allow this additional time. He said that given my refusal to offer my resignation yesterday he had no option but to sack me.” Ms Wriedt said.

Ms Wriedt stressed that depression was a very real and complex illness and that recovery from it was not as simple as recovering from a broken limb.

“Depression is a difficult and challenging illness, however with the right medical treatment and management I have been told there is no reason why I couldn’t make a complete recovery and return to work. I conveyed this to the Premier in my meeting with him yesterday” Ms Wriedt said.

She added that she had unfortunately suffered a number of setbacks in the past few weeks which had slowed down her recovery, such as a bad case of the flu.

“During the past month the Premier has repeatedly stated that he would give me the time and space necessary and I took it on face value that he would honour that commitment.

“Obviously I was not expecting that I would be given an indefinite period to recover and consider my future, however I firmly believe that two more weeks was reasonable given the circumstances.

“I fully appreciate the need for the business of government to continue but I asked the Premier to allow me just another two weeks in which to consider my future, particularly given I am still in hospital and under medical care.

“I am deeply distressed by his refusal to do so, and am concerned by the Premier’s apparent lack of support and understanding. I have been a hard working member of the Government for the last ten years as a Minister holding several senior portfolios during this time, as well as juggling the demands of family life.

“As I have previously stated I accept responsibility for my actions and the hurt they have caused. I regret not having sought help earlier for my depression,” Ms Wriedt said.

Ms Wriedt said that over the past 5 weeks she had been overwhelmed by the support she had received from the public.

“I have been heartened by the hundreds of letters and emails I have received from many people expressing their care and concern and showing great empathy. Many of the messages were written by individuals who have either experienced depression themselves or with a loved one.