Gravely ill Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin should leave cabinet and former minister Matthew Groom should quit state parliament immediately, for the sake of good governance.
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That is the view of former Labor minister Julian Amos.
A government in disarray does no one any good.
- Julian Amos
Mr Groom should “do the honourable thing” and leave parliament now, Dr Amos wrote in his latest newsletter.
“ … if you really care for the cause, this action would bring on a recount and enable a new and active member to be out there fighting for the seat.
“Because you won’t be.”
Mr Groom’s shock resignation citing a desire to put family first rocked the government and will force a ministerial reshuffle as an election nears.
Mr Groom intends to continue as a backbencher until the election, due in March.
The government is working towards a reshuffle, expected to be finalised soon.
Dr Amos wrote: “I am saddened to have to write this way, but my interest is not with the person or his family - important that they are - but for the good of the state.
“A government in disarray does no one any good.”
Premier Will Hodgman confirmed in April Dr Goodwin was not expected to recover from brain cancer.
Dr Amos said he did not believe Dr Goodwin should continue to hold a cabinet position, or to be paid to hold it.
“As much as we all sympathise with her situation, government demands active ministers, and it is in the interests of the state that the cabinet is a fully functional one,” he said.
“The Premier has two matters to resolve, both of which require him to take action against personal friends.
“Politics is never easy, but good governance demands these actions be taken.”
He said the government’s argument of stable government was in ashes, with Mr Groom its fourth minister who no longer “sits around the cabinet table”.
The others were Paul Harriss, Dr Goodwin and Adam Brooks.
“Four out of 10 does not suggest any sense of stable government,” Dr Amos said.
Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said: “Mr Amos is entitled to his views, but the fact is this government is delivering for Tasmania and will continue to focus on what matters.”
“The government is fortunate to have extremely talented members and we will continue to deliver for all Tasmanians.”
Mr Groom took on some of Dr Goodwin’s workload in an acting capacity when she became ill.
Therefore, both of their responsibilities will go elsewhere in the reshuffle.
