Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
Jeremy Rockliff has stitched up another dud deal for Tasmania.
Rather than work across the Parliament to provide transparent, collaborative government in the public interest, the Premier has instead enticed his former colleagues into what is essentially a Parliamentary straitjacket.
It seems that as soon as John Tucker and Lara Alexander announced they were joining the crossbench, the cynical Liberal party machinery went into overdrive. A week of frenzied talks later, and here we are.
For Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander’s part – what a disappointment indeed. Securing the Premier’s agreement to make the stadium a Project of State Significance is all well and good, but in doing so they have traded away much of the Parliament’s potential power to push for better outcomes for the Tasmanian people.
To commit to never supporting any good Bill that Labor or the Greens bring forward is really something else. If this is their commitment to Jeremy Rockliff, John Tucker and Lara Alexander are independents in name only.
Tasmanians will be asking, why did they bother blowing up the government if they’re so ready to trade away their vote? Votes which could change lives for the better and deliver real transparency of governance.