Labor has accused Tasmanian Parliament’s current longest-serving member of attempting to grab the speaker role as a means to slip into retirement.
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Government minister Rene Hidding over the weekend announced he no longer wished to oversee his ministerial portfolios and would nominate himself for the position at a parliamentary party meeting on Monday.
Deputy Labor Leader Michelle O’Byrne said Mr Hidding's decision was a move towards "his inevitable retirement".
"I think it's extremely unlikely that Rene Hidding will see out the entire term; it's clear that he has been on a retirement pathway," she said.
"If you have gone into this election knowing that you don't intend to be a minister and don't intend to play a full role then you probably should have been open about that."
Current speaker Mark Shelton, who has only been in the role for five months, grew his personal vote slightly this election to 8374 first-preferences while Mr Hiddings’ vote declined by more than 2500.
Ms O’Byrne said Premier Will Hodgman would be expected to reward Mr Shelton for his election result.
She said there had been no significant infrastructure projects delivered under Mr Hiddings’ time with the portfolio and he had failed on a number of occasions to apply for project funding through Infrastructure Australia.
Mr Hidding, however, believed he was leaving at the top of his game.
He denied he had been considering the move before the state election.
Mr Hidding said it was his intention to serve his full parliamentary term.
“The contract is for four years – when you stand for a seat, that is what you are agreeing to do,” he said.
Mr Hodgman is due to announce his new cabinet on either Monday or Tuesday.
It is expected that Bass MHA Sarah Courtney and Braddon MHA Roger Jaensch, who are entering into their second terms, will be rewarded with ministerial roles. Mr Shelton is entering his third parliamentary term.