Opinion
Bartlett’s fury
PREMIER David Bartlett has launched a savage attack on political scientist Richard Herr, denying a jibe at the marital status of Greens leader Nick McKim.
Mr Bartlett said the interpretation of his comments by Dr Herr was “bizarre”, “biased”, “twisted” and “untrue”.
In a blistering email sent to the Mercury yesterday, Mr Bartlett denied the claims that his comments made on election night were a slight on Mr McKim and his partner, fellow Greens MHA Cassy O’Connor.
Mr Bartlett, who made much of his working-class roots during the campaign, used his election-night speech to thank the wives.
“I particularly want to acknowledge [Opposition Leader] Will Hodgman and Nicky because, like Larissa and me, I think Tasmanians get two for the price of one in Will and I,” he said. “They are, like us, a young family [who] face great challenges.”
Some, including Dr Herr, read the comments as a dig at the unmarried Mr McKim.
“That’s how it struck me on the evening,” Dr Herr told the Sunday Tasmanian.
“It might have been an expression of [Mr Bartlett’s] disappointment that the issue did not seem to figure much in people’s thinking.”