TASMANIAN Greens leader Kim Booth says the possible departure of his colleague Nick McKim from State Parliament would be no loss to the party. Mr Booth said on Wednesday he was unable to endorse either Mr McKim or Launceston-based lawyer Vanessa Bleyer in their tilt for the Senate. The Tasmanian federal upper house seat will be vacated by outgoing Australian Greens leader Christine Milne next year. Mr McKim had been tipped as Senator Milne’s replacement, and confirmed the speculation earlier this week. Mr Booth quashed suggestions that Mr McKim leaving State Parliament would be a loss to the party. ‘‘Well it would be simply a member of Parliament who would be acting in another domain, so there wouldn’t be any loss at all,’’ he said. Bass Liberal MHA Sarah Courtney has said Mr Booth’s failure to endorse Mr McKim was a sign that the party had a ‘‘massive split’’ appearing. Mr Booth refused to weigh into the looming Senate preselection tussle, pointing out that new Greens party rules do not allow candidates to campaign through mainstream or social media. ‘‘It specifically forbids discussion about it publicly or lobbying for a particular person,’’ Mr Booth said. ‘‘I’m not talking about anybody’s chances in regards to the Senate.’’ Mr Booth would not be drawn on a possible leadership change if Huon Valley councillor Rosalie Woodruff took Mr McKim’s spot in State Parliament. ‘‘It’s all hypothetical,’’ he said.
TASMANIAN Greens leader Kim Booth says the possible departure of his colleague Nick McKim from State Parliament would be no loss to the party.
Mr Booth said on Wednesday he was unable to endorse either Mr McKim or Launceston-based lawyer Vanessa Bleyer in their tilt for the Senate.
The Tasmanian federal upper house seat will be vacated by outgoing Australian Greens leader Christine Milne next year.
Mr McKim had been tipped as Senator Milne’s replacement, and confirmed the speculation earlier this week.
Mr Booth quashed suggestions that Mr McKim leaving State Parliament would be a loss to the party.
‘‘Well it would be simply a member of Parliament who would be acting in another domain, so there wouldn’t be any loss at all,’’ he said.
Bass Liberal MHA Sarah Courtney has said Mr Booth’s failure to endorse Mr McKim was a sign that the party had a ‘‘massive split’’ appearing.
Mr Booth refused to weigh into the looming Senate preselection tussle, pointing out that new Greens party rules do not allow candidates to campaign through mainstream or social media.
‘‘It specifically forbids discussion about it publicly or lobbying for a particular person,’’ Mr Booth said.
‘‘I’m not talking about anybody’s chances in regards to the Senate.’’
Mr Booth would not be drawn on a possible leadership change if Huon Valley councillor Rosalie Woodruff took Mr McKim’s spot in State Parliament.
