Statements
A STATEMENT REGARDING THE ELECTION AND BOB BROWN
In today’s Mercury newspaper former Greens leader Bob Brown criticises me for not racing to cut a deal with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Dr Brown knows full well that I took a no-deals position to the election.
Dr Brown also knows that many of my supporters would be aghast at the prospect of me propping up a Liberal government.
And Dr Brown would also know that the very tight numbers in the new House of Representatives, and the difficulty the Government will have passing some legislation, will result in opportunities for Tasmania in the future.
A curious dimension of this is that Dr Brown is proposing that I do a deal with Malcolm Turnbull, which is exactly what the Greens have ruled out.
Frankly Dr Brown diminishes himself by criticising me for being a man of my word and for seeking to represent those who voted for me.
This is not the time for cheap shots, but rather honesty and cool heads. Dr Brown should leave his campaigning for the Greens until closer to the next election campaign.
Andrew Wilkie, Independent MP for Denison