The Island of Secrets and Lies

Tony McCall
Ostensibly, it appears that Mr Hine’s reward for competence is the knowledge that despite the shallow spin of the government to the contrary, he does not have their full confidence. Perhaps the Premier could enlighten Tasmanians as to why this is the case? Calls for a Commission of Inquiry or an independent assessment of the facts will fall on deaf ears. This government is not waving, it’s drowning.

HERE’S a book title for contemporary Tasmanian politics – The Island of Secrets and Lies.

Just when any responsible government would be preparing Tasmania for the effects of a global recession it would appear that the Bartlett government and the Tasmanian Labor party is in self-destruct mode.

The proposed McCreadie appointment can now be added to the list of inept administrative and policy matters that the Bartlett government needs to take responsibility for: health, education, pulp mills, forestry management, ICT and rail infrastructure just to name a few.

What were they thinking?

Now we have a bun-fight between the government and the DPP, Mr Ellis that will inevitably spill over into a drawn-out trial process for the Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnston. We could lose Mr Ellis along the way and what chance of a fair trial for Mr Johnston?

How do we make sense of what’s happened in government in Tasmania this week?

Since the Labor party State conference in early September, the mood of the government and the Premier has changed.

The reformist zeal and optimism of the Premier became consumed by complex and confronting Labor party tribal issues, notably the political future of Paula Wriedt, once seen by many in the party as a future leader and a member of a dynastic Labor family with a network of supporters who would expect to benefit from her patronage. The manner of Ms Wriedt’s political demise was not lost on her supporters.

Add to the mix of Labor dissenters the displaced persons of influence from the Lennon, Kons and Green tribes and you create a moving feast of political intrique and potential destabilisation.

Whilst Mr Burch is no longer in the tent, his allegations about Labor party tribal activity do not flatter the party in government.

Political parties are naturally tribal. They function by holding common beliefs and values, maintain direct many sided relationships, use reciprocity – you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours – as their modus operandi and maintain solidarity through adherence to the “rules of the game” enforced by persuasion, threats, or the use of gossip and shaming.

This week whispering campaigns within the government and the Labor party are rife, no evidence is needed, reputations nonetheless destroyed.

Right now the Bartlett Labor government faces internal threats, gossip and shaming that it seems powerless to stop or manage effectively.

This destructive activity is reaching into the extended networks of the party, driven by individual party members, their family members and into the governing public sector networks. It is personal and it is filled with anger and fuelled by revenge.

Many people are in the path of this destructive behaviour, the Premier, his staff, his confidants, Mr Johnston, Mr McCreadie and most regretfully, as collateral damage, the highly regarded, Mr Hine, the Deputy Police Commissioner.

Ostensibly, it appears that Mr Hine’s reward for competence is the knowledge that despite the shallow spin of the government to the contrary, he does not have their full confidence.

Perhaps the Premier could enlighten Tasmanians as to why this is the case?

Calls for a Commission of Inquiry or an independent assessment of the facts will fall on deaf ears. This government is not waving, it’s drowning.

Tasmanians will hold their Commission of Inquiry in March 2010, at the State election.

Dr Tony McCall
Honorary Fellow, Australian Innovation Research Centre (AIRC)
Lecturer
School of Government
University of Tasmania