Tasmanias Got Talent? Well not in our current Parliament

Team Bartlett bumbles from one emergency to the next without any real plan. None of them have any shred of charisma, and half of them have been exposed as either incompentent or inept. The only half have only just arrived to replace the ones that couldn’t understand the meaning of independent government. These Labor members are the talent acts that you cringe at when they come on, like the poorly thought out Michael Jackson tribute 10 years on. You know it’s wrong, but you keep watching nonetheless, powerless to do anything but shout at the TV, and shake your head.

But what is the other options? Team Hodgman don’t exactly inspire any degree of offering a ‘different’ government. The members either offer a shadow version of their incumbent opponents, and hardly a new and exciting difference. Tasmanian Times readers are well aware of the LabLib/LibLab symbiosis. Unfortunately the Liberals are the act that everone says “haven’t I seen that somewhere before?” without being able to actually place them.

The third choice, team Green has probably made themselves the only real opposition to anything the LibLab coalition have to offer. Scoutleader McKim has done a very good job of moderating his party from the radical ‘Greenie’ version of Akela Putt to something more of a mainstream opposition party, without marginalising the far left that got them where they currently are. But even within these ranks no-one stands out as a beacon of political talent.

What is the Tasmanian voter to do. Unfortunately unlike popular talent shows the public can’t choose not to vote for the various acts. We can’t ignore the 1900 numbers and choose to leave the fate of the talented (or talentless in this case) in someone elses hands. Come March or thereabouts we will all have to cast our votes for those Tasmanians we think are deserving of a place in the ultimate Tasmanian Talent Quest. If only we had some decent talent to choose from.

What Tasmania needs are strong, talented, honest and vigilant people to stand for election as independent members. In a state so small, the need for political backing is not always necessary, but strong ideals and conviction are. I urge anyone who thinks that they have these qualities to put up their hands and stand for election. If they have talent, and can show it, they may find themselves the ultimate winner in the states most important talent competition.
Oranges Lemons