The Labor Member for Braddon, Brenton Best today called on Greens leader Nick McKim to state whether he supported an outrageous attack on the right to free speech by one of his party s endorsed councillors.
Mr Best said he could scarcely believe comments posted on the Tasmanian Times website attributed to the Greens West Tamar Councillor Karl Stevens slamming The Examiner Newspaper for daring to voice an opinion criticising some elements of anti-pulp mill groups.
Cr Stevens stated in relation to this editorial opinion piece that: The Examiner has destroyed its right to call itself a newspaper, Mr Best said.
Furthermore, when another person later posted a comment on the same website supporting The Examiner s opinion, Cr Stevens posted: (That person) is bang up his own rear end for my money .
This is an appalling attack not only on the right to free speech, but also against Tasmania s free media.
Mr McKim must show leadership and condemn this councillor and his comments.
A failure to do so will show that Mr McKim is incapable of adhering to his own democracy and participation policy, which state that the Greens would honour difference and diversity in the community .
Mr McKim must explain how his party can now hold such a policy that states in its preamble about participation in public issues that A growing culture of intimidation against those who speak up has induced a climate of fear .
It seems that for all the rhetoric about tolerance of opinions, Cr Stevens has shown it is the Greens who are more than prepared to intimidate by launching scathing attacks, and even slinging personal insults, at anyone who doesn t support their agenda.
Mr Best said Tasmania was extremely lucky to be a society where media and citizens have the ability to report and raise comment fearlessly, and a responsible political party should welcome such an ability to air diverse opinion.
Instead, the Greens seem to believe that if a newspaper has the temerity to publish one single critical comment piece, then that newspaper no longer has the right to call itself a newspaper.
Cr Stevens message to all Tasmanians is clear if you do not agree with the Greens beliefs, then you are to be condemned and discredited publicly.
Mr McKim must state unequivocally whether he backs Cr Steven s intolerance of free opinion when it does not conform to an anti-pulp mill line.
Brenton Best, MP Labor Member for Braddon
