In July 1998 Labor and the Liberals reached a bilateral agreement to reduce the size of the Tasmanian Parliament in order to scupper the power of the Greens.
When the process was completed the House of Assembly numbered 25 members, reduced from 35, and the Legislative Council 15 reduced from 19.
Majority government now required only 13 seats.
We should now consider the intellect of the chosen 13 when achieving majority government. At least three are generally unemployable, that leaves ten to govern. Of these, five might make low grade managers in a small company of less than 50 employees. The remaining five shoulder the load of running a multi-million-dollar ‘business’ which they do generally poorly, clocking up horrendous losses.
We are through our taxes, fees and other payments supplying the money that is thrown away by incompetence or malfeasance.
They involve us in the creation of vast debts with no thoughts for the future. A new prison at $275 million and counting,two ferries $850 million in a contract which is impossible to police, and that’s just the start.
Do you ever hear any one of them mutter that they will increase taxes to repay the debt? Never.
It was noted at the time that a House of Assembly smaller than 35 would have difficulty in performing its functions adequately. This is now blatantly obvious as the poor quality of the MP’s chosen by the Liberal and Labor party powerbrokers fly the flags of their own incompetence.
The few with some semblance of intelligence administer a multitude of portfolios creating a workload well beyond their lacklustre ability. The portfolios of Health and Education are classic examples of collapse under poor governance caused by a lack of comprehension by the responsible ministers.
Those that can barely read and write gaze mournfully down from the back benches. Their only contribution to the debate being their vote which is provided without dissension as the governing party brings in corrupted legislation bought and paid for by anonymous donors.
Legislation such as contracts over the extension of licences for poker machines are reflected in the sea of reused blue mug shots that litter the island from one end to the other. Some of these are leftovers from the last election in which the power of undisclosed donations bought an election.
It is no different federally where the coal gas and oil lobby own the Liberal government and have done so for many years. This government jumps when told to jump and dances to the tune of a prime minister, who wearing his heart on his sleeve can carry a lump of coal into our parliament telling us all not to be afraid.
We should be very afraid!
The majority say nothing and do nothing. The hard-won right to vote is wasted on party hacks served up to electors on election day: a litany of local councillors and ex-mayors, most of little or no substance, and having as their only asset a vague public profile.
Since 1909 Tasmania has used the Hare-Clark proportional representation voting method. Combined with even support for two major parties, it has the effect of making it difficult for either major party to secure a parliamentary majority.
This was particularly marked when there were six members per division (1909-56). When we changed to seven members (1959- 1998), the election of uneven numbers per division made it easier to form an effective government as we had more pollies to choose from.
Between 1909 and 1996, only 15 of 28 governments (54%) were majority governments.
Our pollies now treat those who elect them as mugs to be bought with promises that never eventuate using money they do not have.
If the two Greens and Sue Hickey are elected, they will be the only members of our parliament with any semblance of nous or political honesty. The possibility of sharing power leads to their complete and absolute denigration.
It is pathetic to watch the Lib/Lab spin doctors shooting the messenger in the interests of majority power. The Greens and the independents not the Libs or the Labs must hold the balance of power in the next Tasmanian parliament.
This is the Lib/Labs greatest fear: that they instantly become accountable.
A hung parliament will force the major parties to work within the imposed constraints for the good of the people.
As we draw closer to election day, it is pertinent to reflect on how the Tasmanian voter has been treated by those now gathering together the reins of power.
The infrastructure dream promised at every election since I have been in Tasmania is the Bridgewater Bridge to which the Tasmanian and Federal governments have committed $576 million in 2019. In the words of Simon and Garfunkel:
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled waters
I will ease your mind.
The Lib/Lab dead weights will continue to promise that bridge over troubled waters and the mug punters will continue to believe them.
What to do?
John Hawkins was born and educated in England and now calls Tasmania home. He is the author of ‘Australian Silver 1800–1900’ and ‘Thomas Cole and Victorian Clockmaking’ and ‘The Hawkins Zoomorphic Collection’ as well as ‘The Al Tajir Collection of Silver and Gold’ and nearly 100 articles on the Australian Decorative Arts. He is a Past President and Life Member of The Australian Art & Antique Dealers Association. John has lived in Australia for 54 years.
