The appointment of Rene Hidding as Speaker of the House of Assembly is not a foregone conclusion, says a Tasmanian academic.
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Political analyst Professor Richard Herr said there was no reason why there could not be a repeat of the circumstances of 1992 when the government’s choice of Speaker was not supported.
The Liberal government nominated the late Michael Hodgman for the position of Speaker.
However, Labor’s Michael Polley masterminded a speakership coup when he secretly organised support for fellow Lyons Liberal MP Graeme Page.
In the secret ballot that followed Mr Page won with the support of another of his Liberal colleagues and the Labor and Greens.
Mr Hodgman missed out on being Speaker and also a minister because the cabinet had been appointed.
Professor Herr said history could be repeated.
“It would be very embarrassing for the Premier if it did because that is what happened to his father,” Professor Herr said.
“But there are reasons why you could imagine that might happen again.
“You have to ask why did it happen in 1992 and that was because there were some bruised feelings and some division.
“Labor and the Greens were trying to make a point about stable government and one could argue that Labor and the Greens could do that now.”
In 1992, in the 35-seat Liberal government there were 19 Liberal members, 11 Labor and five Greens.
Professor Herr said former Speaker Mark Shelton had been demoted and might feel aggrieved.
“He has been demoted, he got more personal votes than Rene Hidding and he has seen other people who aren’t as experienced get positions,” he said.
Mr Shelton, who replaced Elise Archer when she was promoted to Cabinet, served only nine days as Speaker but was well regarded in the job.
When a government has a one-seat majority, the Speaker can be called on to submit the casting vote on issues that divide the Parliament.
When he announced he was nominating for Speaker, Mr Hidding said he believed that because he was the longest serving Liberal MP, he had the most experience to be Speaker.
Professor Herr said Mr Shelton would only need the support of Labor and the Greens to become Speaker.
A Labor spokesperson declined to comment and the Greens did not respond.