Forget what Liberal Senator Eric Abetz says, Tasmania’s lack of representation in federal parliament is most concerning.
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From the moment Senator Richard Colbeck was duck-shoved down the Liberal ticket, the chances of a Tasmanian politician having any say in federal parliament plummeted. He was the federal tourism minister and was quite vocal when it came to promoting his home state.
Senator Abetz has called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to explain why Tasmanians were overlooked for any Cabinet positions.
However, given Senator Colbeck is still fighting to retain his senate spot as the count drags on into a third week, Mr Turnbull’s decision isn’t overly surprising. That’s not to say it was a good decision – just not surprising.
Tasmania was always going to struggle for representation in federal parliament given the fact Mr Turnbull’s Coalition scraped over the line to retain a narrow majority, all the while Tasmania’s three sitting Liberal MHRs were unceremoniously dumped by their respective electorates.
The job ahead for the victorious Labor quartet of Ross Hart, Brian Mitchell, Julie Collins and Justine Keay will be difficult.
They will face a hostile house of representatives and a potentially less-than-amiable federal senate.
Their first priority should be to hold Mr Turnbull to his word that all election promises made to Tasmania during the campaign will be forthcoming – and forthcoming within a respectible time-frame.
There’s no use holding out on those funding promises until late in the next election cycle. The electorate has already proven itself to not be that gullible.
Bass in particular has a lot to lose if those pledges do not eventuate – $150 million for the uni relocation, $7.5 million for the council’s City Heart project, $1.5 million for an extension to the Tamar silt raking, millions in road funding and CCTV cameras for the CBD are among a plethora of promises made.
Mr Hart, like his predecessor Andrew Nikolic, is known to be a diligent, hard worker for his community. The task that lies ahead for him over the first year will test that resolve.
The difference is, Mr Nikolic had a friendly federal government to make his job all-the-more easier. It’s a luxury that will not be afforded to his Labor successor.
