ADVOCATE
FORMER deputy premier Steve Kons is pulling the pin on a political career that reached great heights and dramatic lows. The Burnie businessman, ex- Burnie mayor and former grocer confirmed yesterday he had not sought preselection to run at next year’s election. He denied the decision was because of the Shreddergate scandal, which sparked his resignation as deputy premier last year and ended what had looked a strong chance of becoming premier. Read more here
EXAMINER
THE man seen as responsible for Steve Kons’s political downfall believes the former deputy premier would have struggled to be re- elected. Mr Kons’s former staffer, Nigel Burch, provided the shredded document to the Tasmanian Greens that proved the then-Deputy Premier had misled Parliament in the scandal that later became known as “Shredder- gate”. Yesterday he told The Examiner that a lot of Mr Kons’s parliamentary problems were of his own making. “I think his problems started with misleading Parliament,” he said. “He brought that on himself, it was his own decision.” Mr Burch said he was not surprised that Mr Kons would not be seeking to recontest the seat of Braddon at the March state election. “His vote has been declining at every election,” he said. “He probably would have been struggling to get elected.” Read more here
Greens:
LABOR IN DISARRAY….AGAIN!
Is Bartlett’s Leadership Style Responsible?
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Saturday, 4 July 2009
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today described the Bartlett government as being in disarray following confirmation that disgraced backbencher Steve Kons will not recontest the 2010 State election.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that this latest departure of a Labor member is indicative of a tired and listless majority government which has lurched from crisis to crisis and run out of ideas and stamina.
“Mr Kons’ confirmation that he will not recontest the next state election once again reveals how badly in disarray Labor is, with this tired majority government clearly running out of steam,” Mr McKim said.
“The rats are deserting the sinking ship in record numbers, which is hardly surprising given the lack of vision and leadership shown by Premier David Bartlett since he became Premier.”
“Mr Kons, like many Tasmanians, has clearly become sick of Mr Bartlett’s tactics of encouraging division among the Tasmanian people in a desperate attempt to hang onto power.”
“The 2010 contest for Braddon is well and truly wide open now that Mr Kons will not recontest the third seat currently held by Labor, and the Bartlett government’s grasp on majority government is becoming increasingly shaky.”
“Since the 2006 state election former Premier Paul Lennon, ex-Minister Paula Wriedt and ex-Minister and Parliamentary Secretary Allison Ritchie have resigned from Parliament, two Deputy Premiers have been sent to the backbench in disgrace, another former government Upper House Member Terry Martin is no longer part of the PLP due to his concerns over the pulp mill fiasco, and now Mr Kons joins Jim Cox as current Labor Members who will not recontest the next state poll.”
Mr McKim also said that he believed that Mr Kons may privately view Mr Bartlett’s divisive Tarkine Rd proposal as a bad idea.
“Mr Bartlett’s pet project is full of defects, but unlike his leader, Mr Kons seems to have listened closely to the people of Braddon and knows that it is not a winner.”
