David Bartlett’s first act in Parliament was to ask a Dorothy Dixer that allowed then Deputy Premier Bryan Green to use Parliament to attack writer Richard Flanagan as a traitor to Tasmania.
As Bartlett began so he continued.
Though built up by local media (one wondered for just how long Sue Neales could continue to use the Homeric epithet ‘the popular young …’) he was never popular with his party and was soon on the nose with the people.
His path upwards was through the cultivation of powerful older patrons, principally ex-premier Michael Field.
Other than gadgets and gimmicks it was hard to discern what he was passionate about. His record as minister was disastrous, his botched reforms of education only further crippling a state system still reeling from the excesses overseen by Paula Wriedt.
As Premier he promised much but achieved little. For all his talk of a new economy he singularly failed to do anything to break the chainsaw-or-perish policies of his predecessor Paul Lennon.
He spoke of lines in the sands, of food bowls, and of the information revolution. But he did little other than squander the last years of the state’s good fortunes.
He went to the last election on a platform that only a Labor majority could deliver stable government and promptly formed a minority government with the Greens.
How ironic that his actions now have been the most destabilising this government has experienced.
Labor is left in a parlous situation. With a team mediocre even by the dismal standards of Tasmanian public life, Giddings must defend her job of slashing. It’s hard to see the government surviving now to full term, and when the next election comes, the lack of any major vote puller for the ALP in Denison will be just one more factor that will see the ALP destined for a long term in electoral oblivion.
No-one can say that our Parliament — even one as so sadly bereft of ability as Tasmania’s — is much the poorer for David Bartlett’s going.
The man who began by having another called traitor, ended up betraying his supporters, his party and his stated ambition of making Tasmania kind, clever and connected.
• NICK McKIM: I am proud to update you
*Picture; David Bartlett’s line in the sand, Beaconsfield 05.10.09 12:58 am: HERE
