Will shows his mettle

NOONE could envy the predicament faced by Liberal Opposition leader Will Hodgman this week. Making the decision to sideline his ageing and ill father and fellow Liberal MP Michael Hodgman from his treasured role as Opposition spokesman on legal matters must have been one of the most difficult calls of his life. Anyone who knows veteran politician Michael Hodgman, 70, will be aware that for the past seven years he has cherished just one glorious ambition — to serve as Her Majesty’s Attorney-General in a Tasmanian Liberal Government led by his only son, Will. That dream came crashing down yesterday when Liberal Party newcomer Vanessa Goodwin was promoted as the Opposition spokeswoman for legal matters and justice in Michael Hodgman’s place. Will Hodgman and the Liberals might still be on the way to minority victory at the polls in March 2010 with the invigorating addition of feisty Dr Goodwin to their small team of seven after her resounding win in the Upper House seat of Pembroke last month. Read more here
Sue Neales, Mercury
Will Hodgman, Vanessa Goodwin. Mercury image