Libs to push ahead with plan to increase the size of Parliament

THE Liberals will push ahead with plans to increase the size of Parliament if they win government.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said he would hold a formal inquiry into an appropriate size, but yesterday he would not commit to the old size of 35 seats in the House of Assembly, existing before 1998.

“We want an independent commission, maybe a retired judge to look at an appropriate size,” Mr Hodgman said.

Premier David Bartlett dismissed the promise, saying the Labor Party was the only party going to the election with a policy of not bringing Tasmanians more MPs.

Mr Hodgman said he had not set a prescribed number of state politicians and had an open mind.

“We want to have a close look to see what savings, if any, were made when the numbers were cut in 1998 and to decide what the right model should be, and how it would operate. We are politicians so we have a conflict of interest in this issue. That’s why we would have an independent study.”

Greens leader Nick McKim said the Greens would be happy to participate in such an inquiry, although they did not believe one was necessary.

“The last two independent inquiries firmly recommended against the cut in numbers that occurred in 1998. We believe that the verdict clearly is the simplest and most efficient thing to do is restore the numbers back to 35,” Mr McKim said.

In 1998 Parliament voted to support cutting the number of MHAs from 35 to 25, and Legislative Council Members from 19 to 15.

Critics have attacked the move for producing no real savings and creating too small a pool of talent to produce a cabinet and other senior positions in Parliament.

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