Politics
McKim’s Yes. O’Connor in Cabinet. Booth dissents
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that the Tasmanian Greens Party Room has this evening decided to accept the positions of one Minister and one Cabinet Secretary which will be offered by Premier David Bartlett.
Mr McKim confirmed that he had conversations today with Premier David Bartlett and Deputy Premier Lara Giddings which resulted in him taking a resolution to his Party room this evening.
“This is an outcome which we genuinely believe is in the best interests of Tasmania and Tasmanians.”
“We now have a great opportunity to show how co-operative politics can work, and deliver the stability and good governance Tasmanians deserve.”
“This is a historic moment for the Greens. We take our new level of responsibility extremely seriously, and will work hard every day to meet the challenge.”
There will be a press conference 12 noon tomorrow (Tuesday 20 April).
The Premier’s offer …
David Bartlett, MP
Premier
Monday, 19 April 2010
Cabinet Secretary Position
The Premier, David Bartlett, said he and Greens leader Nick McKim had reached a compromise position that would mean Mr McKim would accept his invitation to become a minister in the Labor Government.
Under the compromise the Greens would be offered a Cabinet Secretary position.
“I will be writing to Ms Cassy O’Connor inviting her to accept the position of Cabinet Secretary.
“While not a Minister, it will be possible for Ms O’Connor to be delegated some responsibility to assist a Minister in his or her portfolio.
“I have chosen Ms O’Connor based on merit and because I believe she has energy and a lot to offer in this role.
“The decision follows conversation between me, Nick McKim and the Deputy Premier, Lara Giddings.
“As I have said repeatedly, I want to work with members of parliament to provide stable and effective government for all Tasmanians for the next four years.
“The goodwill shown by Mr McKim is indicative of the co-operative politics that Tasmanians have shown they want.
“I remain committed to continuing to build the trust that we have built up in the past week which I am confident will see stable government achieved.
“Tasmania has come too far in the past decade in creating jobs and growing the economy to see the clock wound back because of uncertainty and instability in parliament.”
Michael Stedman, Mercury: Dissent in Greens ranks:
KIM Booth has publicly voiced his dissent against having Greens members in State Cabinet.
Greens leader Nick McKim and Denison MP Cassy O’Connor held a media conference a short while ago to celebrate being offered positions in the new Labor Government.
But a visibly disgruntled Mr Booth revealed he voted against the move in the Greens party room.
“It is a matter of conscience for me, as much as I would like to support my parliamentary colleagues in the arrangement,” Mr Booth said.
“My past eight years in Parliament, particularly the Bartlett-Lennon years, have been some of the most corrupt, dishonest, destabilising periods of governance in Tasmania’s history.
“Given my role in unearthing corruption and the fact that many of the people I heavily criticised and made very strong statements about in the Parliament would still be forming part of a new Bartlett Labor government, I made it very clear that I couldn’t in good conscience sit in a Government with them.”
Mr Booth insisted he bore no ill-will against either Mr McKim or Ms O’Connor for accepting the offer.
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