Tale of two islands

On 14 May the Mercury published an editorial entitled: “Tale of two islands”

It presented an excellent summary of the parallels and differences on post-election negotiations here in Tasmania and in Britain.

One striking difference not covered in the editorial was the reluctance of any of our three political leaders to talk to each other after the declaration of the polls.

It took the public statement by Mr Nick McKim on the evening of Wednesday 7 April indicating his party’s willingness to support the incumbent Premier that ultimately sealed the fate of Tasmania’s most popular political party at the 20 March election – the Liberals.

Here’s how Governor Underwood stated the outcome: “As the Premier was still the holder of the commission to govern, and no other party was in a position to form a stable government, I informed the Premier that he had a constitutional obligation to form a government so that the Parliament could be called together and the strength of that government could be tested on the floor of the House.”

More bluntly Nick McKim saved Bartlett’s bacon, so when Bartlett went back to talk to the Governor for the second time on Thursday 8 April, he knew he had the Government in the bag. Mr Hodgman had nothing in the locker to offer at all and McKim could then do the slow negotiations with Labor over ‘power sharing’.

Does this suggest that Tasmania’s 150 years of Westminster-style democracy is rather ‘green’? [‘Green’ in the sense that it’s not quite ripe or mature yet.]

Or does it simply suggest that, unlike Britain, Tasmania doesn’t have good experiences of minority governments?

In 2010, a workable power-sharing parliament is a political experiment Tasmania needs to embrace, but how are the three parties going to communicate with each other.

Governor Underwood: “The people of Tasmania have demanded a new collaborative way forward – one which will enable my Government to continue to build the State’s economy, meet the needs of the Tasmanian people and enhance and protect our precious environment. There are opportunities and challenges facing the State in the years ahead and it is essential that we have a stable Government. … Tasmanians have made it known that they expect the State to be governed in a manner that is characterised by trust and respect for others.They wish to see Tasmania and its people flourish as a result of the productive relationships formed in the House.”

Will anyone of the three Tasmanian political parties propose a communication strategy in a power-sharing Parliament?

Earlier on Tasmanian Times: The Governor’s Speech, HERE