Economy
Imagine if the winning team told the losers to suck it because they lost? SA …
Some random observations on the election results
Tasmania’s 2014 House of Assembly election delivered a not unexpected majority to the Liberal party. The party’s leader, Mr Will Hodgman, was gracious and a little self-deprecating in victory on Saturday night, unlike his Labor and Greens counterparts, who both delivered an unrepentant paean to their own virtues whilst in government. Election observers were unanimous in their disdain for such unstatesmanlike antics, but they didn’t need to wait long for Mr Hodgman to join the rabble.
The ashes of the former government were barely cool before young Will was publicly admonishing them to take a ‘reality check’ and get a grip on their massive loss.
Isn’t it astonishing that we tolerate behaviour from politicians that we would not countenance from our much revered sports stars? Imagine if a team of AFL grand final losers stood before the cameras and raved on about how well they played? Imagine if the winning team told the losers to suck it because they lost?
Fans, and the public in general, would be appalled. We expect our sporting heroes to be sportsmanlike, and in the modern era, with so much money riding on team reputations, they are unfailingly proper in their public statements. ‘We are extremely grateful for the victory, and all credit to the opposition team for playing a great game’, is the standard post-game comment from the winning team, and ‘We played our best, but all credit to the winners for a game well played’ from the losers. All very civilised.
But give a bunch of pollies control of government and access to the public purse, and all you get is a level of boasting and sniping that wouldn’t be out of place in a kindergarten schoolyard – and these people are supposed to be educated professionals. And just wait until Parliament resumes. I’m pretty sure Cassy O’Connor’s viciously persistent taunting of the Liberal Party in the early days of the former government will be returned to her in spades – tune into the parliamentary webcast to find out.
We have been led to understand that Will has a plan for Tasmania’s future, but is it the new six-point plan for the first 100 days, or the 89-point policy initiatives ‘for a brighter future’ the Liberals took to the electorate as part of their campaign, or even their 13-point plan for native forest logging released in late 2010.
Remember that plan? Back then, Will said, ‘…we are outlining an alternative plan that not only provides the opportunity to improve environmental outcomes by protecting more of Tasmania’s old-growth forests but which will also secure the future of one of our most important industries’ (The Examiner, November 30 2010). Now they have drunk from the cup of electoral victory, after inhaling its heady scent for the past few years, ‘environmental outcomes’ seem to have dropped way off the radar for the Liberal’s forestry policy.
Which is sadly typical of political rhetoric – say what the voters want to hear TODAY, hope that most of them won’t remember what you said yesterday, and ignore those that do with a fervour bordering on religion.
Which brings us to perhaps the most revealing aspect of the Liberals’ proposed style of government. Part of their first order of business is forestry – you know, the low numbers employer that contributes nothing to the state’s productivity – not something really important like education or health services. Apparently, the Liberals intend to keep forestry and its inevitable arguments at the centre of their efforts on behalf of those who elected them.
In the first week, they are meeting with forest industry groups to apprise them of their plans for the industry. It’s simple, Will. Repeal the TFA legislation – symbolically rip it up if you must – because you now proclaim to have a ‘mandate’ to do so. Why stuff around consulting further with industry stakeholders? Don’t they want what you want, and haven’t you spent nearly four years criticising the previous government for their endless negotiating on forestry matters?
Show some balls, and do what you promised. It should be easy with the help of a largely sympathetic upper house.
The Greens were defeated at the ballot box, Will, and gloating is an unattractive quality in any person, let alone a government leader. With the state in dire financial straits, maybe you could show some statesmanship, and focus on improving the lives of all Tasmanians, not just the logging and haulage contractors whose massive cost load have made forestry in Tasmania endlessly unprofitable.
There are thousands of adults out there who can’t read or write, and many more young people heading in the same direction. What do you plan to do about it? Who are you meeting with this week?
We were promised a statewide NBN broadband service and it’s not happening. What are you going to do about it? Who are you meeting with this week?
We have the poorest health and the worst hospital system in the country. What are you doing about it? Who are you meeting with this week?
Do you have any real, sensible plans? Or has Uncle Eric told you to focus on the easy stuff, and leave the tricky issues on the back burner? And, on that point, how do you feel about having Uncle Eric’s deputy, cousin Paul, watching over you like a hawk? Are you squirming yet?
Congratulations, Will, and good luck with what lies ahead – ripping up legislation, picking cabinet members, keeping the Liberal power base happy, and doing whatever it takes to stay in power. I just have one request – get Elise Archer some medical attention. She looks very, very unwell.
PS: I’ve just read that Will, Jezza and Pete entertained a bunch of ‘business and industry representatives’ at a power brekkie this morning. I assume they received their invites via their high speed broadband email, and they were all fighting fit, and they were able to read the menu. It must be wonderful to belong to such a privileged club, boys, and to waste no time reminding the voters just how superior you are.
*The Subversive Voter is known to the Editor.
• ANALYSIS: The peerless Dr Kevin Bonham has analysed the Poll on his blog: Bass, Braddon, Denison, Franklin, Lyons (As always any comment related to Dr Bonham can be made on his website, Dr Kevin Bonham).
• HACSU: Protected Industrial Action
• Richard Colbeck: World Heritage mockery, and here
• Nick McKim: Hodgman’s Late Budget Bodes Ill for Deep Cuts
• Tony Mulder: Obstructionist LegCo … ?
• Jan Davis: I received an e-mail this week from Nick McKim
• Nick McKim: Sad day for Tasmania if TFA is gone It appears that Terry Edwards of the Forestry Industry Association of Tasmania has gone against his signed commitment and walked away from the forestry peace deal. “This is a sad day for Tasmania, and if there is now a return to the old conflicts of the past it will be the responsibility of the Liberals and the timber industry and them alone,” said Greens Leader Nick McKim. “The consequences of ending the TFA rest with Will Hodgman and Terry Edwards.”
• ABC: No detail yet on Tasmanian forestry future after peace deal dumping
• Fairfax: SA to have a minority Labor govt Kevin Bonham: SA Election: Libs Fall Short Of Majority, Again!