What the Libs reckon:
Media Release
WILL HODGMAN, MHA
State Liberal Leader
Wednesday April 5, 2006
New Labor Cabinet
Liberal Leader Will Hodgman said that wherever Labor’s Ministers sat in the Tasmanian Parliament, the State Liberals would hold them, and the entire Lennon Labor Government, to account.
However, Mr Hodgman expressed surprise at the appointment of Michael Aird to the key Treasury portfolio.
Mr Hodgman said Mr Aird had a big task ahead of him convincing Tasmanians that he was up to the job and the State Liberal Team would hold him and the entire Labor government fully accountable for its management of the State economy and budget over the next four years.
“The key position of Treasurer is far too important to be part of some kind of factional deal or prize for being a loyal backroom powerbroker to the Premier. Mr Aird will be under significant pressure to prove that this was not the reason for his surprise promotion and to demonstrate that he has the skills required for this crucially important job.”
Mr Hodgman said the State Liberals would hold Mr Aird fully accountable for his performance over the next four years, in and out of Parliament.
Mr Hodgman said the State Liberal Team with its seven members would more than match up to Labor’s expanded Ministry because of its depth and talent.
“The appointment of Ms Giddings is further embarrassment for David Llewellyn, who lost the Deputy Leadership as part of a pre-arranged factional deal before the election, but who consistently and very publicly expressed his desire to remain on as Health Minister.
“Mr Llewellyn clearly does not have the confidence of the Premier to remain in Health, and yet he is now set to preside over Energy, Primary Industries and Police in this state. It is hardly a move that will inspire confidence in the administration of these important areas for the people of Tasmania.
“Ms Giddings, meanwhile, will need to completely ditch her spin over substance approach to portfolio matters if the health system in Tasmania is to have any chance of survival.
“The health system desperately needs a Minister who can engage with the medical professionals at the coal face and understand the many and varied problems in the system. It needs a Minister who listens to the real issues, not the spin put on them by minders or bureaucrats more interested in protecting the Minister than anything else.
“Ms Giddings has not demonstrated any capability of doing this in the past – indeed she has proved herself a master at completely ignoring problems and looking at everything through rose-coloured glasses.
“This is the last thing the health system needs and the State Liberal Team will have a very important role to play in ensuring this Minister is made aware of problems and is held accountable for fixing them.”
In education, Mr Hodgman said David Bartlett had a big job ahead of him picking up some of the pieces of Paula Wriedt’s legacy, which include declining education standards and ongoing confusion and discontent over the essential learnings implementation.
What the Greens reckon:
