BOB CHEEK, First published in The Examiner, July 1

PREMIER David Bartlett’s predictable backflip on xtending Hawthorn’s Aurora stadium contract is devastating for people who genuinely want a Tasmanian team in the national competition.

But it’s also damning evidence of a greater malaise: we now have a weak leader committed to a populist path of trying to please everybody in a desperate attempt to hang onto power.

History shows that appeasement never works. And it’s bad for Tasmania.

Now, I know Mr Bartlett’s switch back to the Hawthorn camp was popular. If I was a Hawthorn supporter (which I’m not) I’d be pleased too. But what a short-sighted view for a so-called leader of an Australian state.

Bartlett has now virtually sounded the death knell for a Tasmanian AFL team if he grants Hawthorn an extension to 2016. All in the name of political expediency.

His original decision to put the AFL games’ contract up for tender was eminently sensible: It bought him time to persuade the AFL to admit a Tassie team; and opened the door to someone like
North Melbourne, which may want to relocate.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett (who now controls Tasmanian football) spits the dummy; Liberal leader Will Hodgman (just as opportunistic) says he backs Hawthorn; and a concerted campaign starts up North.

Mr Bartlett panics and desperately looks for a way out: ‘‘Oh look, Jeff says he’ll try really hard to get a fifth game at Aurora so that’s good enough for me,’’ he says.

So Mr Kennett wins; Tasmania loses: and Mr Bartlett may scrounge a few extra votes around Launceston, although that’s debatable because, in my experience, Northerners don’t like limpid men.

Contrast Mr Bartlett’s position with Canberra’s reaction to pumping money into the AFL coffers to have teams play at Manuka Oval.

‘‘Get stuffed,’’ the Sports Minister quite rightly told AFL boss Andrew Demetriou. ‘‘Not until you give us our own team and call the 18th side Western-ACT.’’

Guts, eh, Mr Premier.

Mr Bartlett is presiding over a decaying Labor Government. A victim of its own arrogance and cronyism.

He’s beset by disaster after disaster, mostly of his own making. No better example is Allison Ritchie, who turned Labor nepotism into a new art form by employing most of her immediate family.

He’s bereft of talent. His best performers — Bryan Green and Steve Kons (who later announced he is not recontesting) — languish in a sin bin on the backbench.

Ageing Treasurer Michael Aird was content to live a life of leisure in the upper house until he was awoken by the commotion down below; Deputy Premier Lara Giddings acts like a little girl playing grown-ups. Need I go on.

Mr Bartlett’s mentor is former premier Michael Field, who at least got him to pull back from the stupidity of increasing the size of Parliament. Maybe he can stiffen his backbone as well.

So where are the strong leaders in our time of need?

Liberals Will Hodgman and Jeremy Rockliff— two of the nicest guys you could ever meet — look more like a young Paul Newman and Robert Redford every day.

Unfortunately, matinee idols don’t always make great leaders.

Will Hodgman is making the mistake of waiting for government to fall into his lap (although it may well happen under Mr Bartlett).

Both Mr Bartlett and Mr Hodgman have already waved the white flag by agreeing to go into minority government with the Greens —something that strong leaders like Robin Gray and Paul Lennon would never have countenanced.

The two best potential leaders in Parliament are Nick McKim and Peter Gutwein. One, Mr McKim, will never get the chance, but is impressive nonetheless, and will certainly influence future parliaments.

Mr Gutwein is biding his time and doing a great job as Opposition treasury spokesman.

If Will Hodgman falters he should be the man to take over.

Then again, maybe Jeff Kennett could run the State Government as well as Tasmanian football.

● Bob Cheek was a State politician for six years and Liberal opposition leader for one year, before losing his seat in the 2002 election.