It is creating enemies where it needs allies, while trashing a key component of its brand.

It is over-reacting to the threat of a defeat in Parliament of its proposed pay freeze.

Beforeavote was taken on the legislation in the Legislative Council the government withdrew the bill and immediately earmarked 500 more public service jobs for the axe, including the possibility of police, teachers and heath positions. 

Not very clever. Not very visionary.

Tasmanians warmed to a government that, in opposition, campaigned on the need to strengthen front line services.

The Liberals campaigned for budget reform and an improved economy, but also promoted themselves as the champions of the the warriors policing our streets, teaching our children and treating the sick.

All that has gone.

Even if the government eventually spares the front line, it has broken its promise to quarantine these services from budget cuts.

Tasmanians who voted Liberal last March will not stand for it.

If the Liberals try to blame the Legislative Council it will backfire on them because you don’t alienate independent or politically friendly MLCs, lest they join the ranks of the many enemies created this week.

Now the government is faced with a dilemma of its own making.

It is damned if it backs down and damned if it holds firm.

The Liberals needn’t have prematurely withdrawn the bill.

They decided it was not worth pursuing, but in doing so they became the villains.

That their real agenda was 500 more job losses. In other words, an ideological rather than a financial strategy.

Tasmanians strongly support a return to fiscal responsibility.

It is not the Liberals’ fault that the budget is so bloated and wasteful.

That’s not the issue.

The issue is the new government’s ability to manage.