Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
On behalf of the Tasmanian Greens, I acknowledge Will Hodgman’s many years of service to the people of Franklin, and to Tasmania as Premier.
There’s no question Will has left his mark as a popular Liberal Premier.
On a personal note, I’ve always found Will to be very likeable and excellent company outside Parliament.
We have clashed in the House over the direction his government is taking Tasmania - but that’s politics, a sometimes fierce contest of values.
Without wanting to sound churlish, I note Will Hodgman says he is proud of his government’s emissions profile. In very significant part, Tasmania’s measure as a net carbon sink since 2013 is due to the protection of forests and transition to plantations that was made possible because of Greens in government.
356 000 hectares of those carbon-sink forests need the permanent protection which has been denied to them by the Hodgman Government.
My colleague, Rosalie Woodruff, and I wish Will, Nicky and their three children a very happy life together post-Parliament whatever direction it takes them.
The changing of the guard is an opportunity for a fresh approach.
While Tasmania has experienced some good fortune and economic growth during Will Hodgman’s time as Premier, there needs to be a much stronger emphasis on tackling social inequality, the impacts of global heating on this island and its people, and on setting a genuinely sustainable course for the future.