Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader
The Greens welcome new Labor Leader, Rebecca White's support for restoring the numbers in the House of Assembly to 35.
We encourage Premier and Liberal Leader, Will Hodgman, to restate the former unequivocal support he showed for a tripartisan push to restore 35 seats to Tasmania's Parliament in 2010.
In recognition that the reduction to 25 seats was a bad move, all three party leaders signed a commitment to restore the House numbers prior to the 2010 State Election. Will Hodgman's name is still on that piece of paper and he still heading up his Party, but he's the only one refusing to commit.
As Opposition Leader in 2010, Mr Hodgman told the media, "the Parliament's too small, it's not working well to best serve the people of Tasmania." As Premier, it's time the honoured his pre-2010 commitment.
Mr Hodgman has clung to the State's finances as his reason for squibbing on his 2010 pledge. He and his colleagues, however, have been proclaiming the State's Budget as 'back in the black' since last May.
Hare-Clark was designed to be truly representative of the voters’ will. There are members across all parties in the Parliament who recognise the reduction in numbers has had a negative impact on the quality of Ministers and of Parliamentary debate on legislation.
Last year, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry called for a restoration of 35 seats to the Lower House, noting the limited talent pool to choose Ministers from.
It's time the Tasmanian Parliament was restored to its original and intended size.