Speaker Sue Hickey breaks silence following shock election

In her first interview since her shock defeat of colleague Rene Hidding as Speaker, Ms Hickey reflected on her first week in the role.

“After I got over the shock, it was was really quite exciting, a lot of pomp and ceremony,” Ms Hickey said.

“I expect in this two week break to be doing a lot of study so I’m a much improved Speaker by the time we return.

“I don’t feel like I’ve been disloyal at all.

“I know there’s this machiavellian villain image that’s been portrayed but quite frankly I’m still a member of the Will Hodgman Liberal government and I really believe in stable government.

“I’ll be supporting the government on supply and confidence and the outcome is literally instead of getting Speaker A, we’ve got Speaker B.

“Everyone needs to grow up, we’re professional politicians and I expect we’ll manage this for the next four years to do the best job we can for the people of Tasmania.”

Ms Hickey was nominated by Labor leader Rebecca White and seconded by Greens leader Cassy O’Connor for the job of Speaker …

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Sue Bailey and Rob Inglis, Advocate