TENSIONS between the Bartlett government and Tasmania’s peak employer group, festering for months, have burst into open warfare.
The consequences for a government facing a difficult election in less than six months could be significant, as well as for abusiness lobby wrestling with internal divisions.
This week’s trigger for the subterranean conflict to surface was the leaking of an audit critical of the Tasmanian Education Foundation. A body set up to promote the value ofeducation, the foundation is chaired byAndrew Scobie, who is also managing director of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Audit Office review was critical of both the foundation and the government, concluding a $250,000 grant had not delivered taxpayers “value for money” and identifying an “unclear” relationship between the foundation and the TCCI.
Auditor-General reports are tabled in parliament, but this one — or at least elements of it — found its way to The Mercury in Hobart 24 hours in advance of its tabling. Scobie was furious.
“The leaking of the report by the Premier is indicative of the government’s approach to the foundation from day one,” he said. “It has always put its own political outcomes above Tasmanian educational outcomes.”
To a Premier who had just announced details of a new integrity commission and who is proud of his dual role as Education Minister, these were fighting words. The government media unit denied it was responsible for the leak.
But the blame-game around the shortcomings of the foundation is only a vehicle for a far deeper and broader conflict between the government and the TCCI.
The real trouble started earlier this year with a statement by Scobie and the TCCI on majority government and stability.
Rather than back the Labor line that majority government is the key to stability, Scobie said the TCCI’s position was that majority government of itself did not bring stability. The point is palpably obvious given the trail of scandal since Labor won the 2006 election with a majority.
Since then, the government has had two premiers, four deputy premiers and more reshuffles than most can recall.
However, it was interpreted by Bartlett Labor as an attack and as a free-kick to the Greens, as well as the Liberals, who few pundits believe can win a majority this time around, but who could well end up governing in minority.
As if that wasn’t enough, Scobie and chamber chief economist Richard Dowling have happily publicly criticised the government over a raft of issues.
Cartoon: Mark
